Water Resources Review – May 2001

Updated: May 31, 2001

See definitions.

Maryland And Delaware. -- Streamflow decreased throughout the entire bi-state area. In Western Maryland and on the upper Potomac River, streamflow decreased, and remained in the normal range.  In Central Maryland, flows decreased, also remaining in the normal range. Flows on the lower Potomac River decreased, and moved from the normal into the below normal range. In north east Maryland, flows also decreased, moving from the normal into the below normal range.  On the Eastern Shore, streamflow decreased, and remain in the normal range.

Contents of the Baltimore reservoir system increased slightly, and near month's end were 99 percent of capacity. End of month contents = 75,280 million gallons.

Ground-water levels increased throughout most of the bi-state area:  In western Maryland, ground water levels rose, moving from the below into the above-average range. In west-central Maryland, ground water levels decreased,and remain in the below-average range. In central Maryland, water levels increased, although remaining in the below-average range. On the Eastern Shore, water levels rose slightly, and remain in the above-average range. 

Surface Water Data -- May 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.

2830

58

1.04

8.78

64

-4.92

9060
(24)

884
(17)

Seneca C at
Dawsonville, Md.

106

80

1.21

9.14

65

-4.86

421
(23)

51
(17)

Potomac R near
Washington, D.C. 1

#8120

55

0.81

7.55

60

-5.05

19200
(26)

3940
(18)

Deer C near 
Rocks, Md.

#99.6

57

1.22

9.94

72

-3.86

185
(27)

75 
(17)

Choptank R near
Greensboro, Md.

122

95

1.24

13.99

94

-0.91

604
(28)

46
(17)

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 – May  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

04-30

13.11

05-30

12.57

WA-Be 2

Fort Frederick

04-30

25.85

05-30

30.24

MO-Eh 20

Fairland

04-30

12.44

05-30

12.08

Jd 42-03

Camden

04-30

5.40

05-29

5.37

 

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

05-30

12.57

+0.07

+0.54

-0.37

+0.54

May 2001

Fort Frederick

05-30

30.24

 -2.94

-4.39

+0.79

-4.67

Apr 2001

Fairland

05-30

12.08

-0.11

+0.36

+0.24

+0.36

May 2001

Camden

05-29

5.37

+0.69

+0.03

+0.55

+0.03

May 2001

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

Last day: 11100 cubic feet per second (estimated).
Reference period: 1971 to 2000.

Chesapeake Bay – May 2001

Total flow into the Chesapeake Bay was about 33.1 billion gallons per day, (BGD) 54 percent of average. May average: 61.8 BGD.

The three largest rivers flowing into the Chesapeake Bay contributed about 78 percent of total inflow in May, with individual contributions of:

River

Percentage of total inflow
to Chesapeake Bay

Susquehanna River

36

Potomac River

21

James River

                 21

Total

78

Other rivers

22

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.