On previous Franklin Facts, we've kept tabs on the drought by looking at precipitation deficits and also streamflow rates along local creeks and rivers.

Another way to monitor hydrologic conditions is using groundwater levels. Those of you who depend on wells for your water know this personally. At the government level, the U.S. Geological Survey also monitors groundwater levels through a network of wells. There are more than 60 such wells in Pennsylvania, about 10 in New Jersey, and one in Delaware. Here's a look at the water level since last September in that Delaware well, which is located just northeast of Adamsville, in southern Kent County.

The steady drop of more than six feet in the water level through mid-March is a telling indicator of the slide into the current drought. The slight rise at the tail of the graph shows that recent rains made just a small dent in the drought - March was the first month since last June with above-average precipitation.