Access USGS - MD-DE-DC

Water Resources Review - February 2000

See definitions.

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

Contents of the Baltimore reservoir system increased, and near month's end were 87 percent of average and 94 percent of last year. End of month contents = 65,750 million gallons.

Ground-water levels increased throughout the entire bi-state area. In western Maryland, ground water levels rose, and moved from the below-normal range into the above-normal range. In west central Maryland, ground water levels increased, and remain in the below-normal range. In central Maryland, water levels increased, and moved from the below-normal range into the above-normal range. On the Eastern Shore, water levels rose, 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        5050    101     1.75    3.62     65    -1.95   23800   20
Paw Paw, W.Va.                                                       882    9

Seneca Cr at         150    127     1.60    5.93    117    +0.86     742   19
Dawsonville, Md.                                                      65    3

Potomac R near     14100     88     1.32    3.88     81    -0.92   58900   21
Washington, D.C.(1)                                                 3220    1 

Choptank R near      248    139     2.36    6.84    103    +0.17     784   20
Greensboro, Md.                                                      126    7  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (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          01-28       14.95      02-28        8.23

WA-Be  2   Fort Frederick    01-28       34.72      02-28       32.59

MO-Eh 20   Fairland          01-28       12.98      02-28       11.04

Jd 42-03   Camden            01-28        7.96      02-28        7.01
---------------------------------------------------------------------


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

Accident         8.23      +1.60     +6.72    +4.83    +6.72     02    2000
(February 28, 2000)

Ft. Frederick   32.59      -4.20     +2.13    +2.24    +2.13     02    2000
(February 28, 2000)

Fairland        11.04      +0.40     +1.94    +2.82    +1.94     02    2000
(February 28, 2000)

Camden           7.01      -0.72     +0.95    +1.63    +0.95     02    2000
(February 28, 2000)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------


Potomac River near Washington, D.C.

Last day: 20500 cubic feet per second (estimated).

Reference period: 1961 to 1990.


Chesapeake Bay

Total flow into the Chesapeake Bay was about 55.0 billion gallons per day, (BGD) 80 % of average.

February average: 68.5 BGD.

The three largest rivers flowing into the Chesapeake Bay contributed about 85 % of total inflow in February, with individual contributions of:

     --------------------------
     Susquehanna River     51 %
     Potomac River         21 %
     James River           13 %
     --------------------------
                  Total    85 %
                  Other    15 %

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.