Streamflow and Groundwater Levels Fell in March 2004

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: April 6, 2004

Some streamflow and groundwater levels fell in March, but most were in the normal to above normal range across Delaware, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, according to hydrologists at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Below normal precipitation in March caused streamflow levels to fall. Groundwater levels also will be declining soon as the growing season approaches because there is increased water demand from trees and plants.

Status of Streams and Wells

The map to the right shows the wells and streams used by the USGS to monitor water conditions in Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia. In March, streams and wells ranged from above normal (blue/black triangles and circles) to below normal levels (orange/grey triangles and circles). Only two wells had above normal levels in March.

Streamflow was above normal in parts of western Maryland and below normal in Delaware and the Delmarva Peninsula and parts of central Maryland during March.

Precipitation

Precipitation in March was 1.2 inches below normal for Baltimore and has been below normal each month this year, according to the National Weather Service. Some streamflow levels have responded to the lack of precipitation with below normal levels. Groundwater levels typically take longer to respond to climatic conditions. March temperatures were nearly normal and there was only a trace of frozen precipitation.

Chesapeake Bay

Monthly mean streamflow into the Chesapeake Bay during March averaged 94.2 bgd (billion gallons per day), which is only 2 percent below normal. March is typically the wettest month of the year, however it was below normal this year for most of Maryland, Delaware, and the Chesapeake Bay drainage area. Despite the below normal precipitation, abundant flow from the Susquehanna River resulted in near-normal flow to the Bay for March. 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

Streams across Maryland and Delaware were flowing at normal to below normal levels in March, with a few exceptions in western Maryland. 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/. Current and historical streamflow data can be monitored on the web at: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/.

Daily streamflow on the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. averaged 13.6 bgd in March, which is 12 percent below normal for the month of March. 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 were mostly at normal to above normal levels during March. Water levels dropped in most of the wells, but remain above normal in Baltimore and Prince Georges Counties, Maryland. This is the seventh consecutive month of record-setting high groundwater levels for Prince Georges County. 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 deep confined aquifers used for water supply by many people living in southern and eastern Maryland and Delaware continue to decline. The water levels continue to decline because they are being pumped 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 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 decreased 1 percent to 92 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 Report

As the demand for freshwater increases in Maryland and Delaware, stress is placed on the State’s ground-water and surface-water resources. Availability of freshwater in a particular area of the State depends on factors such as precipitation, geology, and topography. Water availability also is affected by changing population and development patterns that directly influence water use.

Maps of freshwater withdrawals by county for Maryland and Delaware are shown here. These maps show which counties have the highest and lowest water withdrawals by county across each State. In Maryland, Baltimore and Montgomery Counties have the highest water withdrawals. In Delaware, New Castle County has the highest freshwater withdrawals.

Maryland and Delaware water-use fact sheets are now available online from our USGS District publications web page. Freshwater Use in Delaware, 2000 provides an overview of freshwater use in the State during 2000 by category of use. Freshwater Use Trends in Maryland, 1985-2000 presents an overview of freshwater-withdrawal trends by use in the State from 1985 through 2000. These Fact Sheets were prepared as part of the USGS effort to compile National Water-Use information every 5 years since 1950. The latest report Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 2000, is available online at http://water.usgs.gov/watuse/.

The USGS serves the Nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life.

** * 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