Water Resources Review – July 2000

Updated: July 31, 2000

See definitions.

Maryland And Delaware. -- Streamflow decreased throughout most of the bi-state area. In Western Maryland and on the upper Potomac River, streamflow decreased, with flows remaining in the normal range. In Central Maryland, flows decreased, and remained in the normal range. On the lower Potomac River, flows decreased, and remain in the normal range. In north east Maryland, flows decreased, and remain in the normal range.  On the Eastern Shore, streamflow increased, and moved from the normal into the above normal range.

Contents of the Baltimore reservoir system decreased, and near month's end were 92 percent of capacity. End of month contents = 69,750 million gallons.

Ground-water levels were above average throughout most of the bi-state area. In western Maryland, however, ground water levels fell, and moved from the above-average to below-average range. In west-central Maryland, ground water levels decreased, and moved from the below to above-average range (was below average since June 1998). In central Maryland, water levels decreased, although remaining in the above-average range. On the Eastern Shore, water levels fell, also moving from the below to above-average range. 

Surface Water Data – July 2000

[% = percent; ft³/s = cubic feet per second; in. = inches; Date = day of month;
1 = Includes diversions for water supply; * = Above normal range; # = Below normal range]
Station name Discharge Runoff
(in.)		 Cumulative runoff Maximum
(ft3/s)
---
(Date)		 Minimum
(ft3/s)
---
(Date)
Mean
(ft3/s)		 Percent of
normal		 Total
(in.)		 Percent of
normal		 Departure
(in.)
Potomac R at
Paw Paw, W.Va.		 914 92 0.33 8.79 64 -5.01 1810
(31)		 625
(10)
Seneca C at
Dawsonville, Md.		 92.7 137 1.06 13.99 117 +1.99 336
(15)		 49
(9)
Potomac R near
Washington, D.C. 1		 4280 92 0.43 9.23 74 -3.27 5550
(1)		 2970
(14)
Deer C near 
Rocks, Md.		 94.1 102 1.15 14.57 95 -0.83 256
(15)		 59 
(12)
Choptank R near
Greensboro, Md.		 *94.9 240 0.97 16.92 118 +2.62 311
(17)		 26
(14)

Normal is defined as the median (50th percentile) of long-term monthly-mean discharge or monthly total runoff. The normal range is defined as discharge or runoff falling between the 75th and 25th percentiles of long-term records. 

Ground Water Data – July 2000

Well number Well name Previous month Reporting month
Date measured Level
(feet below
land surface)		 Date measured Level
(feet below
land surface)
GA-Bc 1 Accident 06-28 14.13 07-28 15.35
WA-Be 2 Fort Frederick 06-28 31.41 07-28 31.80
MO-Eh 20 Fairland 06-28 12.60 07-28 13.17
Jd 42-03 Camden 06-29 6.49 07-28 6.53
Name Date measured Water level
(feet below
land surface)		 Departure from average
(feet)		 Change since previous month
(feet)		 Change since previous year
(feet)		 Last reversal
Change
(feet)		 Date
(month, year)
Accident 07-28 15.35 -0.41 -1.22 +1.03 -6.63 May 2000
Fort Frederick 07-28 31.80  +0.04 -0.39 -2.49 -4.68 April 2000
Fairland 07-28 13.17 +0.18 -0.57 +3.00 -2.54 May 2000
Camden 07-28 6.53 +0.01 -0.04 +1.56 -1.14 May 2000

Potomac River near Washington, D.C. – July 2000

Last day: 4760 cubic feet per second (estimated).
Reference period: 1961 to 1990.

Chesapeake Bay – July 2000

Total flow into the Chesapeake Bay was about 22.0 billion gallons per day, (BGD) 95 percent of average. July average: 23.1 BGD.

The three largest rivers flowing into the Chesapeake Bay contributed about 79 percent of total inflow in July, with individual contributions of:

River Percentage of total inflow
to Chesapeake Bay
Susquehanna River 47
Potomac River 18
James River 14
Total 79
Other rivers 21

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.