Hydrologic Drought Wanes as Water Levels Rise
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
Jump to archives >>Updated: December 4, 2002
Abundant autumn rains have lead to a waning of the hydrologic drought that has engulfed the Mid-Atlantic region for more than a year. Streams were flowing at normal to above normal levels at the end of November. Groundwater levels have increased across Maryland and Delaware, many to normal levels, some to above normal levels, and a well in Delaware reached a record monthly high, according to hydrologists at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The recovery from hydrologic drought conditions has been quicker than expected.
Water levels in a deep bedrock well in Baltimore County, Maryland finally responded to rainfall (aquifer recharge) in mid-November after 15 months of falling water levels. Because the water level in this well is monitored at 15-minute intervals, the magnitude 7.9 Alaskan earthquake on November 3 was detected by a small but sudden drop in water level. Since then, the water level in this well has increased by 0.74 feet.
Groundwater levels, streamflow, and water-quality data can be obtained from the USGS National Water Information System Web site (NWISWeb) at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/. NWISWeb provides access to water-resources data collected at approximately 1.5 million sites in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. To reach the real-time groundwater data for Maryland and Delaware, from the main NWISWeb page, select the state of interest from the drop-down box in the upper left, then select “Ground Water,” followed by “Real-time.” Wells are identified and can be accessed by clicking on the station number.
Rainfall in November was near normal to above normal in some regions. Because the rain fell at a time of year when water demand is low, streamflows and groundwater levels increased throughout most of Maryland and Delaware. Water levels usually increase in the fall because seasonal changes cause less water to be lost to evaporation or used by plants, but the abundant rainfall has brought the water levels up more quickly than expected.
For news release and images, visit:
http://md.water.usgs.gov/publications/press_release/current
Groundwater is the last hydrologic element to recover from drought conditions because of the time required to recharge aquifers. Groundwater levels increased throughout the region, although wells in Baltimore, Montgomery, and Prince Georges Counties in Maryland still had levels below normal at the end of November (see graphs at http://md.water.usgs.gov/groundwater/. In September 2002, 9 of the 16 wells used by the USGS to assess water resources across Maryland and Delaware set monthly record lows. By November, water levels rose in all 16 wells, and in several of these wells, groundwater levels rose significantly. The table below compares the water levels for wells that set record monthly lows in September 2002 with current water levels, showing the increase during the 2-month period.
The water level in a well in Carroll County, Maryland rose more than 7 feet during the last 2 months, and is now above normal. The groundwater level in the deep, bedrock well in Baltimore County (mentioned above regarding earthquake response), is slowly climbing and has increased by 0.52 feet since September. However, the November water level is only 0.03 feet away from the November record set in 1966 (27.42 feet).
In contrast, water levels in the Coastal Plain region on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Delaware rose to above normal levels for November. The water level in a well in Kent County, Delaware reached a new monthly record high at 8.77 feet, breaking the record set in 1967 by 1.27 feet.
Streamflows during the last 7 days of November and monthly streamflow ranged from normal to above normal at streamflow stations across Maryland and Delaware. Five-year monthly streamflow hydrographs can be viewed on the USGS website at: http://md.water.usgs.gov/surfacewater/streamflow/ Average monthly streamflow at the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. was about twice the normal flow at 93 percent above normal (see graphs at http://md.water.usgs.gov/monthly/poto.html. Total flow into the Chesapeake Bay during November averaged 57.2 bgd (billion gallons per day), which is 47 percent above average. More information about water and the Chesapeake Bay can be found at http://chesapeake.usgs.gov/.
The above normal streamflows have helped only slightly to refill reservoirs. Storage in the Baltimore Reservoir System increased 6 percent to 52 percent of capacity at the end of November, and the contents of the Triadelphia and Duckett Reservoirs on the Patuxent River increased 14 percent to 57 percent of capacity. Reservoirs in the region are typically above 80 percent of capacity at this time of year.
Tracking streamflow and groundwater levels is essential to gauge drought severity and recovery. These USGS data have been provided to State and local water resource managers and are critical for making appropriate decisions on water restrictions. For more information on how the drought is affecting streamflow and groundwater levels in Maryland and Delaware, see Drought Watch at: http://md.water.usgs.gov/drought/.
Please note that the streamflow and groundwater level data is provisional and subject to change.
Ground-Water Levels in the Metropolitan Washington D.C. Area can be seen at:
http://md.water.usgs.gov/groundwater/web_wells/current/water_table/counties/cog/
Five-year streamflow hydrographs can now be viewed at:
http://md.water.usgs.gov/surfacewater/streamflow
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, and other agencies. The observation wells used in this analysis are operated in cooperation with the Maryland and Delaware Geological Surveys. The USGS publishes data for 128 streamflow stations and 379 wells across Maryland and Delaware.
The USGS, a bureau within the Department of the Interior, is the Nation's largest water, earth and biological science, and civilian mapping agency providing reliable, impartial scientific information to resource managers, planners, and other customers. This information is gathered in every state by USGS scientists to minimize the loss of life and property from natural disasters, contribute to the sound conservation and the economic and physical development of the Nation's natural resources, and enhance the quality of life by monitoring water, biological, energy, and mineral resources.
** * 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
