Water Resources Review – April 2001

Updated: April 30, 2001

See definitions.

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

Contents of the Baltimore reservoir system increased, and near month's end were 99 percent of capacity. End of month contents = 77,050 million gallons.

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

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Surface Water Data -- April 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 (ft^3/s) --- (Date)	Minimum (ft^3/s) --- (Date)
	Mean (ft^3/s)	Percent of normal		Total (in.)	Percent of normal	Departure (in.)
Potomac R at Paw Paw, W.Va.	6330	126	2.25	7.74	62	-4.76	17600 (12)	2110 (30)
Seneca C at Dawsonville, Md.	142	91	1.57	7.93	78	-2.27	252 (11)	86 (30)
Potomac R near Washington, D.C. ^1	21200	128	2.04	6.74	61	-4.36	41400 (01)	7740 (30)
Deer C near  Rocks, Md.	152	92	1.80	8.72	76	-2.78	215 (01)	115  (30)
Choptank R near Greensboro, Md.	224	116	2.21	12.75	98	-0.25	696 (01)	102 (30)

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

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Ground Water Data – April 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	03-30	9.90	04-30	13.11
WA-Be 2	Fort Frederick	03-30	25.57	04-30	25.85
MO-Eh 20	Fairland	03-30	11.24	04-30	12.44
Jd 42-03	Camden	03-30	5.09	04-30	5.40

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	04-30	13.11	-2.14	-3.21	-4.39	-3.21	Apr 2001
Fort Frederick	04-30	25.85	-0.41	-0.28	+3.25	-0.28	Apr 2001
Fairland	04-30	12.44	-0.99	-1.20	-1.81	-1.20	Apr 2001
Camden	04-30	5.40	+0.28	-0.31	-0.01	-0.31	Apr 2001

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

Last day: 7740 cubic feet per second (estimated).
Reference period: 1971 to 2000.

Chesapeake Bay – April 2001

Total flow into the Chesapeake Bay was about 95.7 billion gallons per day, (BGD) 102 percent of average. April average: 93.5 BGD.

The three largest rivers flowing into the Chesapeake Bay contributed about 87 percent of total inflow in April, with individual contributions of:

River	Percentage of total inflow to Chesapeake Bay
Susquehanna River	60
Potomac River	18
James River	9
Total	87
Other rivers	13

Period of record: 1937 to Present. 

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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

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For additional information, contact:

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