DELAWARE – As Delaware continues to experience ongoing drought conditions, the Delaware Climate Office has launched a new website aimed at keeping the public informed about the state's water resources.
The Drought Resources and Awareness website, developed by the University of Delaware’s Center for Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, was created in partnership with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Delaware Geological Survey. According to DNREC, the platform provides updates on precipitation, streamflow, groundwater levels, and other indicators of drought across the state.
“The new drought website integrates data and observations from key Delaware agencies for monitoring and managing water resources,” said DGS Professional Geologist and Hydrologist, Stefanie Baxter. “Droughts will come and go in the future, so this site is a major milestone for providing current water conditions information.”
The site presents precipitation measurements by county and municipality and shows what those levels indicate for current water supply conditions. DNREC says a “Drought Discussion” section includes charts, graphs and expert commentary focused on selected locations throughout the state.
According to the latest update posted on the website, March precipitation was higher than average in most parts of Delaware, especially Sussex County. DNREC says stream conditions in northern Delaware have improved, and chloride levels in the Christina River have decreased. Also, officials say groundwater levels remain below average at most monitoring wells, though DNREC says conditions have shown improvement following recent rainfall.
The Drought Resources and Awareness site is available online.