Water Resources Review – January 2002

Updated: January 31, 2002

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 increased 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, at the index station on Deer Creek, flows also increased, however, continue to remain in the below-normal range (8 of the last 9 months below normal flows); Second lowest monthly January flow for the period of record (lowest January 1966).  On the Eastern Shore, streamflow also increased, although remaining in the below normal range.

Contents of the Baltimore reservoir system decreased, and near month's end were 59 percent of capacity. End of month contents = 44,570 million gallons.

Ground-water levels were below normal throughout most of the bi-state area. In western Maryland, however, ground-water levels rose, and moved from the below-normal into the above-normal range. In west-central Maryland, ground-water levels increased, although remaining in the below-normal range. In central Maryland, water levels showed a slight decrease, and remained in the below-normal range. On the Eastern Shore, water levels fell, and remain in the below-normal range.

Surface Water Data -- January 2002

[% = 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.

#700

17

0.25

0.82

17

-3.88

1570
(27)

443
(6-7)

Seneca C at
Dawsonville, Md.

#59.8

43

0.68

2.55

51

-2.45

92
(7)

42
(1-3)

Potomac R near
Washington, D.C. 1

#2290

16

0.23

0.79

16

-4.21

3710
(30)

1480

(1)

Deer C near 
Rocks, Md.

#43.5

29

0.53

1.70

31

-3.70

86
(11)

33
(4-6)

Choptank R near
Greensboro, Md.

#31.6

16

0.32

0.98

23

-3.32

50
(31)

19
(2)

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  2002

Detailed ground-water information for Maryland and Delaware is available at http://md.water.usgs.gov/groundwater/.

Potomac River near Washington, D.C.  -  January 2002

Last day: 3350 cubic feet per second (estimated).
Reference period: 1971 to 2000.

Chesapeake Bay – January 2002

Total flow into the Chesapeake Bay was about 16.8 billion gallons per day, (BGD) 29 percent of average. January average: 57.6 BGD.

Second lowest January flow for period of record: Lowest January 11.3 BGD (1981).

The three largest rivers flowing into the Chesapeake Bay contributed about 79 percent of total inflow in January, with individual contributions of:

River

Percentage of total inflow
to Chesapeake Bay

Susquehanna River

57

Potomac River

13

James River

                  9

Total

79

Other rivers

21

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.