Water Resources Review – December 2001

Updated: December 31, 2001

See definitions.

Maryland And Delaware. -- Streamflow continues to remain below normal throughout the entire bi-state area. In Western Maryland and on the upper Potomac River, streamflow increased, although remaining in the below-normal range. In Central Maryland, flows decreased slightly, and remain in the below normal range. Flows on the lower Potomac River increased, and continue to remain in the below-normal range. In northeast Maryland, flows showed a slight increase, however, continue to remain in the below-normal range (7 of the last 8 months below normal flows). On the Eastern Shore, streamflow also increased slightly, and remains in the below normal range.

Contents of the Baltimore reservoir system decreased, and near month's end were 62 percent of capacity. End of month contents = 47,270 million gallons.

Ground-water levels were below normal throughout most of the bi-state area. In western Maryland, ground-water levels rose, although remaining in the below-normal range. In west-central Maryland, ground-water levels decreased slightly, also remaining in the below-normal range. In central Maryland, water levels showed a slight increase, and remained in the below-normal range. On the Eastern Shore, water levels fell, and remain in the below-normal range.

Surface Water Data -- December 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.

#563

16

0.21

0.57

21

-2.13

738
(16)

448
(6-7)

Seneca C at
Dawsonville, Md.

#59.6

51

0.68

1.87

60

-1.23

92
(18)

45
(31)

Potomac R near
Washington, D.C. 1

#2180

18

0.22

0.56

19

-2.34

2600
(20)

1670

(31)

Deer C near 
Rocks, Md.

#36.2

31

0.44

1.17

33

-2.33

54
(18)

28
(31)

Choptank R near
Greensboro, Md.

#24.0

24

0.24

0.66

30

-1.54

29
(9)

20
(6-7)

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 – December  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

11-28

15.43

12-27

12.39

WA-Be 2

Fort Frederick

11-28

35.21

12-27

35.41

MO-Eh 20

Fairland

11-28

14.89

12-27

14.74

Jd 42-03

Camden

11-28

8.57

12-26

8.82

 

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

12-27

12.39

-0.22

+3.04

-0.76

+3.64

Nov 2001

Fort Frederick

12-27

35.41

-4.20

-0.20

-2.06

-9.65

Apr 2001

Fairland

12-27

14.74

-2.12

+0.15

-1.00

+0.32

Nov 2001

Camden

12-26

8.82

-1.75

-0.25

-2.65

-3.98

July 2001

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

Last day: 1670 cubic feet per second (estimated).
Reference period: 1971 to 2000.

Chesapeake Bay – December 2001

Total flow into the Chesapeake Bay was about 23.7 billion gallons per day, (BGD) 46 percent of average. December average: 52.0 BGD.

The three largest rivers flowing into the Chesapeake Bay contributed about 84 percent of total inflow in December, with individual contributions of:

River

Percentage of total inflow
to Chesapeake Bay

Susquehanna River

68

Potomac River

 9

James River

                  7

Total

84

Other rivers

16

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)

Monthly Climate Summary

For additional information, contact:

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