What are the drought indicators and how are they used?
A. The DEP utilizes several drought indicators to assess the status of water supply and hydrologic conditions for each drought region. The indicators are precipitation, stream flow, shallow ground water levels, and reservoir storage (as applicable). Each indicator is weighted according to its importance within a particular region (e.g., reservoirs are a significant factor in the Northeast drought region because they are a critical water supply source there). The indicators are evaluated and ranked according to how the current value relates to the long-term average, as follows: near/above normal, moderately dry, severely dry, or extremely dry. Ultimately, these indicators serve as one factor the DEP uses to determine if a drought-related administrative designation (i.e. watch, warning, or emergency) is warranted.
