Access USGS - MD-DE-DC

Water Resources Review - January 2000

See definitions.

Maryland And Delaware. -- Streamflow decreased throughout the entire bi-state area. In Western Maryland and on the upper Potomac River, streamflow decreased, and moved from the normal range into the below-normal range. In Central Maryland, flows decreased, and remained in the normal range. On the lower Potomac River, flows decreased, and moved from the normal into the below-normal range. On the Eastern Shore, streamflow decreased, and remained in the normal range.

Contents of the Baltimore reservoir system increased, and near month's end were 83 percent of average and 88 percent of last year. End of month contents = 60,740 million gallons.

Ground-water levels were below normal throughout the entire bi-state area. In western Maryland, ground water levels fell, and remained in the below-normal range. In west central Maryland, ground water levels decreased, and remain in the below-normal range. In central Maryland, water levels decreased, and remain in the below-normal range. On the Eastern Shore, water levels fell, and remained in the below-normal range.


Surface Water Data

         [% = percent; ft³ = cubic feet per second; in. = inches; 
      Med. = median; Max. = maximum; Min. = minimum; Date = day of month]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Mean discharge                   Cumulative runoff
                   --------------          -----------------------------------
                             %                      %               Max.
                             of    Runoff           of   Departure  Min.  Date
Station name       (ft³)    Med.   (in.)   (in.)   Med.    (in.)    (ft³)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Potomac R at       #1230     37     0.46    1.87     52    -1.73    1950   31
Paw Paw, W.Va.                                                       998    9

Seneca Cr at          78.9   74     0.90    4.33    118    +0.66     140   11
Dawsonville, Md.                                                      62   18

Potomac R near     #4230     37     0.43    2.56     80    -0.64    5760   12
Washington, D.C.(1)                                                 2720   26 

Choptank R near      114     63     1.16    4.48    103    +0.11     203    6
Greensboro, Md.                                                       83   25  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (1) Includes diversions for water supply
  *  Above normal
  #  Below normal


Ground Water Data

                          [Date = month & day]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
       Station                  Feet below land surface datum
-------------------------    ---------------------------------------- 
Number     Name               Date       Level       Date       Level
-------------------------    ----------------------------------------
GA-Bc  1   Accident          12-29       13.95      01-28       14.95

WA-Be  2   Fort Frederick    12-29       34.65      01-28       34.72

MO-Eh 20   Fairland          12-28       12.81      01-28       12.98

Jd 42-03   Camden            12-30        7.70      01-28        7.96
---------------------------------------------------------------------


                                   [ft = feet]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Water level change (ft) from        Last reversal
               Water   ----------------------------   ----------------------
Name           level     Average    Last      Last     (ft)    Month   Year
(Date)         (ft)                 Month     Year
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Accident        14.95      -3.49     -1.00    -8.11    -2.81     12    1999
(January 28, 2000)

Ft. Frederick   34.72      -3.64     -0.07    -0.16    -0.07     01    2000
(January 28, 2000)

Fairland        12.98      -1.02     -0.17    +0.77    -0.17     01    2000
(January 28, 2000)

Camden           7.96      -1.10     -0.26    -0.76    -0.26     01    2000
(January 28, 2000)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------


Potomac River near Washington, D.C.

Last day: 3230 cubic feet per second (estimated).

Reference period: 1961 to 1990.


Chesapeake Bay

Total flow into the Chesapeake Bay was about 28.7 billion gallons per day, (BGD) 51 % of average.

January average: 56.8 BGD.

The three largest rivers flowing into the Chesapeake Bay contributed about 81 % of total inflow in January, with individual contributions of:

     --------------------------
     Susquehanna River     56 %
     Potomac River         13 %
     James River           12 %
     --------------------------
                  Total    81 %
                  Other    19 %

Period of record: 1951 to Present.


Related Information

Reports for previous months
Monthly Water Conditions in the Chesapeake Bay Region
National Water Conditions
Definitions of terms
Northeast Regional Climate Center (from Cornell University)
Northeast Climate Impacts - monthly
Monthly Climate Summary

For additional information, contact:
webmaster@md.water.usgs.gov or call 410-238-4200.