Water Resources Review – August 2000

Updated: August 31, 2000

See definitions.

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

Contents of the Baltimore reservoir system decreased, and near month's end were 89 percent of capacity. End of month contents = 67,570 million gallons.

Ground-water levels remained above average throughout most of the bi-state area. In western Maryland, however, ground water levels rose, although remaining in the below-average range. In west-central Maryland, ground water levels decreased, but remain in the above-average range.. In central Maryland, water levels decreased, although remaining in the above-average range. On the Eastern Shore, water levels rose, and remain in the above-average range. 

Surface Water Data – August 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.		 *1900 243 0.70 9.49 67 -4.61 9540
(7)		 756
(26)
Seneca C at
Dawsonville, Md.		 *125 246 1.43 15.42 121 +2.72 513
(2)		 44
(26)
Potomac R near
Washington, D.C. 1		 *6030 180 0.60 9.83 76 -3.07 20200
(8)		 2760
(22)
Deer C near 
Rocks, Md.		 62.9 89 0.77 15.34 92 -1.26 81
(2)		 50 
(26)
Choptank R near
Greensboro, Md.		 *127 490 1.29 18.21 124 +3.51 547
(16)		 51
(13)

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 – August 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 07-28 15.35 08-30 14.74
WA-Be 2 Fort Frederick 07-28 31.80 08-30 31.96
MO-Eh 20 Fairland 07-28 13.17 08-30 13.74
Jd 42-03 Camden 07-28 6.53 08-30 6.00
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 08-30 14.74 -0.26 +0.61 +1.32 +0.61 Aug 2000
Fort Frederick 08-30 31.96  +1.42 -0.16 +3.27 -4.84 April 2000
Fairland 08-30 13.74 +0.02 -0.57 +2.93 -3.11 May 2000
Camden 08-30 6.00 +0.86 +0.53 +2.76 +0.53 Aug 2000

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

Last day: 3540 cubic feet per second (estimated).
Reference period: 1961 to 1990.

Chesapeake Bay – August 2000

Total flow into the Chesapeake Bay was about 22.1 billion gallons per day, (BGD) 111 percent of average. August average: 20.0 BGD.

The three largest rivers flowing into the Chesapeake Bay contributed about 82 percent of total inflow in August, with individual contributions of:

River Percentage of total inflow
to Chesapeake Bay
Susquehanna River 43
Potomac River 24
James River 15
Total 82
Other rivers 18

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:

info@md.water.usgs.gov or call 410-238-4200.