Water Resources Review – March 2001

Updated: March 31, 2001

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 remained in the normal range.  In Central Maryland, flows increased, and moved from the below normal into the normal range. Flows on the lower Potomac River increased, and  remain in the normal range. In north east Maryland, flows increased, also remaining in the normal range.  On the Eastern Shore, streamflow increased, and remain in the normal range.

Contents of the Baltimore reservoir system increased, and near month's end were 92 percent of capacity. End of month contents = 70,140 million gallons.

Ground-water levels increased throughout the entire bi-state area:  In western Maryland, ground water levels rose, although remaining in the below-average range. In west-central Maryland, ground water levels increased,and moved from the below to above-average range. In central Maryland, water levels increased, also remaining in the below-average range. On the Eastern Shore, water levels rose, and remain in the above-average range. 

Surface Water Data -- March 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.

5640

79

2.08

5.49

53

-4.81

17400
(22)

2550
(04)

Seneca C at
Dawsonville, Md.

164

96

1.87

6.36

78

-1.84

1000
(30)

78
(03)

Potomac R near
Washington, D.C. 1

17800

74

1.78

4.70

51

-4.50

65200
(23)

7390
(04)

Deer C near 
Rocks, Md.

156

88

1.91

6.92

73

-2.58

637
(30)

84 
(03)

Choptank R near
Greensboro, Md.

344

150

3.50

10.54

103

+0.34

1850
(22)

145
(12)

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 – March  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

02-27

10.43

03-30

9.90

WA-Be 2

Fort Frederick

02-27

30.56

03-30

25.57

MO-Eh 20

Fairland

02-27

12.61

03-30

11.24

Jd 42-03

Camden

02-26

5.77

03-30

5.09

 

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

03-30

9.90

-0.74

+0.53

+0.01

+2.15

Feb 2001

Fort Frederick

03-30

25.57

 +0.77

+4.99

+1.55

+8.48

Dec 2000

Fairland

03-30

11.24

-0.24

+1.37

-0.38

+3.10

Nov 2000

Camden

03-30

5.09

+0.93

+0.68

+0.71

+1.49

Dec 2000

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

Last day: 40900 cubic feet per second (estimated).
Reference period: 1971 to 2000.

Chesapeake Bay – March 2001

Total flow into the Chesapeake Bay was about 67.0 billion gallons per day, (BGD) 69 percent of average. March average: 97.5 BGD.

The three largest rivers flowing into the Chesapeake Bay contributed about 86 percent of total inflow in March, with individual contributions of:

River

Percentage of total inflow
to Chesapeake Bay

Susquehanna River

51

Potomac River

22

James River

                 13

Total

86

Other rivers

14

Period of record: 1937 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.