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Drought Watch Underway in Delaware Valley

By Lynne Adkins

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It's only May, and already parts of Pennsylvania are under a drought watch.

Some area rivers, including parts of the Delaware in Bucks County, are running low this spring because of the lack of rainfall.

Kate Schmidt, spokeswoman for the Delaware River Basin Commission, says 27 counties are already in a drought watch, with some experiencing rainfall up to seven inches below normal for the year.

"Bucks itself is seeing anywhere from 2-3½ inches below normal, so we have been very dry.  And we're in the growing season now, so all the trees and plants that are in bloom are absorbing the precipitation which equates to less water into our rivers."

Bucks is not part of the drought watch.  The affected areas are north and west of the county.

 

 

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