Water Resources Review – December 2002

Updated: January 2, 2003

See definitions.

Maryland And Delaware. –  Streamflow averages were mostly in the normal range throughout the bi-state area.  In Western Maryland and on the upper Potomac River, streamflow decreased slightly, and moved from the above normal into the normal range. In Central Maryland, flows increased, and remained in the normal range. Flows on the lower Potomac River increased, although moving from the above normal back into the normal range. In northeast Maryland, flows increased, and remain in the normal range. On the Eastern Shore, streamflow remained about the same, and remains in the above normal range.

Contents of the Baltimore reservoir system increased, and near month's end were 59 percent of capacity. End of month contents = 45,010 million gallons.  Contents of the Triadelphia  and Duckett reservoirs, near month’s end, were 8.51 billion gallons, 80 percent of capacity.

Surface Water Data ---December 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.

 4840

134

1.79

4.26

158

+1.56

11600
(14)

  2120

(7,9,10)

Seneca C at
Dawsonville, Md.

  154

132

1.75

3.95

127

+0.85

598
(14)

56
(4,10)

Potomac R near
Washington, D.C. 1

17700

144

1.76

3.81

131

+0.91

48200
(16)

5410

(10)

Deer C near 
Rocks, Md.

131

113

1.60

3.57

102

+0.07

390
(14)

55
(5)

Choptank R near
Greensboro, Md.

*343

343

3.50

7.72

351

+5.52

     926
     (26)

    136
    (10)

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  2002

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

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

Last day: 12,000 cubic feet per second (estimated).
Reference period: 1971 to 2000.

Chesapeake Bay – December 2002

Total flow into the Chesapeake Bay was about 64.6 billion gallons per day, (BGD) 123 percent of average. December average: 52.4 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

48

Potomac River

22    

James River

                 14

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.