Water Resources Review – February 2002

Updated: February 28, 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 decreased, 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 decreased, and continue to remain in the below-normal range (9 of the last 10 months below normal flows). On the Eastern Shore, streamflow decreased slightly, and remains in the below normal range. Lowest monthly February flows for the period of record at index stations in Western Maryland, Lower Potomac, Northeast Maryland (also record low single day), and the Eastern Shore. 

Contents of the Baltimore reservoir system decreased, and near month's end were 57 percent of capacity. End of month contents = 43,120 million gallons.

Ground-water levels were below normal throughout the entire bi-state area. In Western Maryland, ground-water levels fell, and moved from the above-normal into the below-normal range. In west-central Maryland, ground-water levels remained the same, remaining in the below-normal range. In central Maryland, water levels showed a slight decrease, and remained in the below-normal range, recording a record low reading for the second month in a row. On the Eastern Shore, water levels fell, and remain in the below-normal range, also reaching a record low for the month.

Surface Water Data -- February 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.

#853

16

0.28

1.10

15

-6.00

1100
(2)

675
(28)

Seneca C at
Dawsonville, Md.

#50.4

37

0.52

3.07

46

-3.53

66
(1)

42
(24)

Potomac R near
Washington, D.C. 1

#2440

15

0.22

1.01

14

-6.09

3280
(1)

1860

(28)

Deer C near 
Rocks, Md.

#36.1

24

0.40

2.10

28

-5.30

56
(1)

30
(24-26)

Choptank R near
Greensboro, Md.

#30.7

14

0.28

1.26

19

-5.44

37
(8)

27
(28)

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 – February  2002

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

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

Last day: 1860 cubic feet per second (estimated).
Reference period: 1971 to 2000.

Chesapeake Bay – February 2002

Total flow into the Chesapeake Bay was about 34.2 billion gallons per day, (BGD) 50 percent of average. February average: 67.6 BGD.

Fifth lowest February flow for period of record: Lowest February 28.1 BGD (1963).

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

River

Percentage of total inflow
to Chesapeake Bay

Susquehanna River

76

Potomac River

7     

James River

                  4

Total

87

Other rivers

13

 

***February flow for the Susquehanna was almost three times the January flow, while flows on the Potomac and James reached record lows not approached since 1934.***

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.