Water Resources Review – January 2001

Updated: January 31, 2001

See definitions.

Maryland And Delaware. -- Streamflow increased throughout most of the bi-state area, although decreasing in the Potomac River basin. In Western Maryland and on the upper Potomac River, streamflow decreased, remaining in the below normal range for the third straight month . In Central Maryland, flows increased, and remain in the normal range. Flows on the lower Potomac River decreased, and  remain in the below normal range since November. In north east Maryland, flows decreased slightly, and remain in the normal range.  On the Eastern Shore, streamflow increased, remaining in the normal range.

Contents of the Baltimore reservoir system decreased, and near month's end were 85 percent of capacity. End of month contents = 64,420 million gallons.

Ground-water levels, near months end, were below average throughout most of the bi-state area:  In western Maryland, ground water levels fell, moving from the above to below-average range. In west-central Maryland, ground water levels increased,although remaining in the below-average range. In central Maryland, water levels increased, also remaining in the below-average range. On the Eastern Shore, water levels remained unchanged, and remain in the above-average range. 

Surface Water Data -- January 2001

[% = 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.

#1800

44

0.66

2.02

43

-2.68

10200
(31)

880
(18)

Seneca C at
Dawsonville, Md.

99.2

71

1.13

3.44

69

-1.56

333
(20)

51
(3)

Potomac R near
Washington, D.C. 1

#5910

42

0.59

1.89

38

-3.11

12600
(31)

3480
(16)

Deer C near 
Rocks, Md.

95.5

64

1.17

3.80

70

-1.60

320
(30)

52 
(18)

Choptank R near
Greensboro, Md.

169

84

1.73

4.70

109

+0.40

745
(21)

72
(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 – January  2001

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

12-28

11.63

01-30

12.05

WA-Be 2

Fort Frederick

12-28

33.35

01-30

32.51

MO-Eh 20

Fairland

12-27

13.74

01-30

13.35

Jd 42-03

Camden

12-28

6.17

01-30

6.17

 

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

01-30

12.05

-0.53

-0.42

+2.90

-0.53

Jan 2001

Fort Frederick

01-30

32.51

 -1.35

+0.84

+2.21

+1.54

Dec 2000

Fairland

01-30

13.35

-1.37

+0.39

-0.37

+0.99

Nov 2000

Camden

01-30

6.17

+0.73

0.00

+1.79

+0.41

Dec 2000

Potomac River near Washington, D.C.  -  January 2001

Last day: 12600 cubic feet per second (estimated).
Reference period: 1971 to 2000.

Chesapeake Bay – January 2001

Total flow into the Chesapeake Bay was about 23.9 billion gallons per day, (BGD) 42 percent of average. January average: 56.2 BGD.

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

River

Percentage of total inflow
to Chesapeake Bay

Susquehanna River

42

Potomac River

22

James River

                 16

Total

80

Other rivers

20

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.