Streams Rise to Above Normal Levels in Maryland

U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey

Contact:
Wendy McPherson (wsmcpher@usgs.gov)
Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center
5522 Research Park Drive
Baltimore, MD 21228
Phone:(443)498-5500
FAX: (443)498-5510

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Updated: May 5 , 2004

Above normal rainfall in April caused streamflow and groundwater levels to rise, and many water levels were at above normal levels in Maryland, according to hydrologists at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Water levels in streams and wells in Delaware continued their downward trend and ranged from below normal to above normal. Groundwater levels typically begin to decrease this time of year because trees and plants use groundwater.

Status of Streams and Wells

The map to the right shows the location of the wells and streams used by the USGS to monitor water conditions in Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia. In April, abundant rainfall caused most streams in Maryland to be above normal levels (dark triangles). Streams in Delaware were normal (white triangles) to above normal.

Several days of heavy rain caused the water-table well in Somerset County, Maryland to reach the highest April level in 40 years (well shown with asterisk).

Precipitation

April was the first month this year with above normal precipitation, totaling 5.33 inches (2.33 inches above normal) for Baltimore, according to the National Weather Service. Water levels in many streams and wells responded to the abundant precipitation and were at above normal levels.

Chesapeake Bay

Monthly mean streamflow into the Chesapeake Bay during April averaged 101.6 bgd (billion gallons per day), which is 10 percent above normal. More information about USGS studies to help with the protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed can be found at http://chesapeake.usgs.gov.

Streamflow

Most streams in Maryland were flowing above normal levels in April. Streams in Delaware ranged from normal to above normal. The hydrograph of streamflow on the Monocacy River at Jug Bridge near Frederick, Maryland, to the right shows that the river rose several times in April but never reached flood stage. Current and historical streamflow data can be monitored on the web at: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/.

Five-year monthly streamflow hydrographs from the USGS stream-gaging network can be viewed on the USGS website at http:/md.water.usgs.gov/surfacewater/streamflow/.

Daily streamflow on the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. averaged 21.0 bgd in April, which is 96 percent above normal for the month of April. More information on the Potomac River is available at: http://md.water.usgs.gov/monthly/poto.html.

Groundwater-Unconfined or Shallow Aquifers

Groundwater levels in the wells used by the USGS to monitor unconfined or shallow aquifer response to climatic conditions in the bi-state region ranged from normal to above normal levels during April. Water levels rose in most of the wells, and in Somerset County, Maryland, the April water level was at a 40-year high. There had been several days of heavy rainfall just prior to the measurement. For 5-year hydrographs of groundwater levels for the climatic indicator wells, visit: http://md.water.usgs.gov/groundwater/.

Groundwater-Confined or Deep Aquifers

Although water is plentiful at the surface (streams, reservoirs, and shallow groundwater reserves are full), some of the water levels in the deep confined aquifers used for water supply by many people living in southern and eastern Maryland and Delaware continue to decline. The decline is caused by pumping at greater rates than the rate at which deep groundwater is recharged, and because the confined aquifers are deep, water levels in confined aquifers take longer to respond to climatic conditions than water levels in shallow aquifers. Confined aquifer wells are measured monthly and can be viewed at http://md.water.usgs.gov/groundwater. Four wells, including one drilled in March 2004 in the confined Aquia aquifer in Calvert County, Maryland, have real-time water-level data collection and can be viewed at: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/md/nwis/gw.

Reservoir Storage

Contents of the Baltimore reservoir system remained at 100 percent capacity. Storage in the Triadelphia and Duckett Reservoirs on the Patuxent River, which serves Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties, has increased 7 percent to 99 percent of capacity.

Water Monitoring

The USGS has been collecting national streamflow data for 120 years, since 1884. Streamflow monitoring began on the Potomac River at Point of Rocks, Maryland in 1895 and continues today. Streamflow and groundwater levels are used to assess the current water conditions and can be used to predict the potential for flooding and drought conditions. These USGS data have been provided to State and local water resource managers and are critical for making appropriate decisions on water regulation. For more information on streamflow and groundwater levels in Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia, visit Water Watch at: Water Watch.

The real-time streamflow stations used in this analysis are operated in cooperation with the Maryland and Delaware Geological Surveys, the Maryland State Highway Administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Maryland Department of the Environment, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, and other agencies. The observation wells used in this analysis are operated in cooperation with the Maryland and Delaware Geological Surveys and the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin. The real-time wells are operated in cooperation with the Maryland and Delaware Geological Surveys, the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, and Calvert County, Maryland. The USGS publishes data for 137 streamflow stations and 389 observation wells across Delaware, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.

Recently Released USGS Reports

The USGS Maryland, Delaware, and D.C. District recently published two reports highlighting recent scientific work done by this office. These reports and other publications are available online from the Publications section of the District homepage at: http://md.water.usgs.gov/publications/online.html.

The short fact sheet titled The U.S. Geological Survey in Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. (FS 2004-3004) includes information on water resources, water quality, Chesapeake Bay, and urban issues regarding water, in addition to information on geography, geology, and biological resources.

The USGS report titled Selected Applications of Hydrologic Science and Research in Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C., 2001-2003 (FS 126-03) describes hydrologic science and research including real-time data transmission, continuous water-quality monitoring, Hoverprobe drilling, thermal-infrared imaging, passive-diffusion-bag samplers, hydroacoustic techniques, wastewater analysis, sediment source identification, water-use data analysis, and borehole geophysics.

** * USGS * * *

In-depth information about USGS programs may be found on the USGS home page at http://www.usgs.gov and http://chesapeake.usgs.gov/ for Chesapeake Bay activities.

Archived News Releases 2000-Present

2006

• 01-06-2006 Water Resources Plentiful at End of December 2005; Chesapeake Bay Flow Normal in 2005

2005

• 07-06-2005 Water Levels Fall as Summer Arrives
• 04-06-2005 March 2005 Water Levels Near Normal
• 03-04-2005 Flow Below Normal in Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay
• 02-07-2005 January 2005 Water Levels Normal to Above Normal
• 01-07-2005 2004 Ends with Normal to Above Normal Water Levels

2004

• 12-04-2004 Water Levels Remain Generally Above Normal
• 11-04-2004 Dry October Causes Water Levels to Drop
• 10-06-2004 Highest September Flow to the Chesapeake Bay Since 1937
• 09-03-2004 August Hurricanes Raise Water Levels in Southern Maryland
• 08-06-2004 Localized Flooding in Northeastern Maryland and Delaware in July
• 07-07-2004 Water Levels Normal to Above Normal in June
• 06-04-2004 Streams Return to Normal Levels in Maryland and Delaware during May 2004
• 05-06-2004 Streams Rise to Above Normal Levels in Maryland
• 04-07-2004 Streamflow and Groundwater Levels Fell in March 2004
• 03-04-2004 Streamflow and Groundwater Levels Normal to Above Normal in February 2004
• 02-04-2004 Cold, Dry January Leads to Drop in Water Levels
• 01-06-2004 Wettest Year Leads to Record-High Water Levels Including Third Highest Flow to Chesapeake Bay in December and 2003

2003

• 12-04-2003 More Record-High Water Levels in November 2003
• 11-04-2003 Record High Groundwater Levels in October 2003
• 10-03-2003 Flow to Chesapeake Bay in Water Year 2003 Second Highest Since 1937
• 09-05-2003 Third Consecutive Month of High Flow into the Chesapeake Bay
• 08-06-2003 Flow into Chesapeake Bay near Record High Levels
• 07-07-2003 Record Breaking High Water Levels in Maryland and Delaware
• 06-06-2003 Streamflow and Groundwater Levels High in May
• 05-07-2003 April Water Levels Normal
• 04-05-2003 Water Levels High in March - Water Restrictions Lifted
• 03-05-2003 Exceptionally Wet February Leads to High Water Levels
• 02-06-2003 Maryland and Delaware Streamflow and Groundwater Levels Remain Normal in January 2003
• 01-07-2003 2002: A Record-Setting Year for Low Groundwater Levels - Water Levels Recover to Normal in December 2002

2002

• 12-01-2002 Hydrologic Drought Wanes as Water Levels Rise
• 11-01-2002 Water Levels Rise Across Maryland and Delaware, But Drought Persists in Some Areas
• 10-03-2002 Water Levels Remain at Record-Setting Lows
• 09-05-2002 Groundwater in Parts of Maryland Reaches Lowest Levels Since 1962, Despite Late August Rains
• 08-06-2002 Drought Conditions Lead to 10 Record Low Monthly Groundwater Levels in July
• 07-03-2002 Record Low Water Levels Show the Effects of Long-Term Hydrologic Drought
• 06-04-2002 Groundwater Levels Reflect Long-Term Effects of Drought
• 05-02-2002 April Showers Not Enough to Raise Groundwater Levels
• 04-05-2002 The Drought in Full Bloom: Low Water Levels Result in Water Restrictions

2001

• 12-03-2001 Record Low Water Levels Set in November
• 11-02-2001 Dry October Leads to Low Water Levels
• 10-05-2001 Water Levels Low in Northern Maryland
• 09-07-2001 Water Levels Stable in August
• 08-06-2001 High and Low Water Levels in July
• 07-06-2001 Water Levels Continued to Improve in June
• 06-06-2001 Needed Rain Helps Avert a Drought in May
• 05-08-2001 Water Levels Still Normal in April, but More Rain is Needed
• 04-05-2001 Spring Rains Help Water Levels
• 03-06-2001 Water Levels Improve, But Are Still Below Normal
• 02-06-2001 Streamflow Still Low in Maryland in January
• 01-05-2001 Streamflow to Chesapeake Bay in 2000 Reflects Dry Autumn

2000

• 12-05-2000 Streamflow in Maryland Beginning to Show the Effects of Lack of Rain
• 11-07-2000 Despite Lack of Rain October Water Conditions near Normal
• 10-06-2000 September Water Conditions Above Normal in Maryland, Delaware, and D.C.
• 09-08-2000 August Water Conditions Above Normal in Maryland, Delaware, and D.C.
• 08-07-2000 July Water Conditions Continue Normal in Maryland, Delaware, and D.C.
• 07-07-2000 June Water Conditions Normal in Maryland, Delaware, and D.C.
• 06-06-2000 Water conditions begin to decline in Maryland, Delaware, and D.C.
• 05-05-2000 Water Conditions Continue to Improve in Maryland, Delaware, and D.C.
• 04-07-2000 Water Conditions Continue to Improve in Maryland, Delaware, and D.C.
• 03-07-2000 Water Conditions Improving in Maryland, Delaware, and D.C.
• 02-08-2000 January Streamflow and Ground Water Levels Still Low
• 01-06-2000 1999 Flow Into Chesapeake Bay Lowest Since 1960s Drought