U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
WATER-RESOURCES CONDITIONS IN NEW YORK
DECEMBER 1999
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, WRD
New York District, Troy, NY
WATER RESOURCES REVIEW AND CURRENT CONDITIONS STATEMENT
FOR DECEMBER 1999
Prepared January 4, 2000
Troy Subdistrict--Summary Report
Provisional mean flows in eastern New York were in the normal range at all sites
monitored and included in this report. The percent of median decreased over 70% from
November to December at Schoharie Creek at Prattsville and mean flow at this site was
now in the normal range after 3 consecutive months in the excessive range.
Ithaca Subdistrict--Summary Report
Provisional mean monthly flows at monitored sites included in this report for western
New York were in the normal range at Susquehanna River at Conklin, Chemung River at
Chemung, Chenango River near Chenango Forks, Allegheny River at Salamanca, Tonawanda
Creek at Batavia, and Genesee River at Wellsville. Oatka Creek at Garbutt was in the
deficient range. All sites, except Tonawanda Creek at Batavia, were adjusted for minor
backwater effect from ice.
Coram Subdistrict--Summary Report
Provisional mean flow at Massapequa Creek at Massapequa was in the deficient range
for the tenth consecutive month.
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Provisional Data for December 1999#
INDEX STREAMFLOW STATIONS
(Reference period 1961-90)
* Deficient. e Estimate.
# Note: Flow statistics based on data collected through December 31, 1999.
MONTHLY MEAN DISCHARGE FOR INDEX STREAMFLOW STATIONS
Provisional Data for December 1999#
MEAN FLOW FOR SELECTED GAGING STATIONS
Percent of median
Flow for month
Station (cfs) (period of record)
01321000 Sacandaga River near Hope 740 79
01350000 Schoharie Creek at Prattsville 481 107
01371500 Wallkill River at Gardiner 804 73
01372500 Wappinger Creek near Wappingers Falls 255 103
01413500 E Br Delaware River at Margaretville 259 87
01420500 Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls 474 85
01423000 W Br Delaware River at Walton 613 99
01512500 Chenango River near Chenango Forks 2,280 95
01531000 Chemung River at Chemung 2,060 111
03011020 Allegheny River at Salamanca 2,620 89
04217000 Tonawanda Creek at Batavia 138 56
04221000 Genesee River at Wellsville 306 68
*04230500 Oatka Creek at Garbutt 86 40
04256000 Independence River at Donnattsburg 220 110
* Deficient.
LAKES AND RESERVOIRS
Elevation & Storage at End of Month
Reservoirs (Storage in million cubic feet) Current Year Last Year Average
01314500 Indian Lake nr Indian Lake, NY 3,531 3,185 2,835
01323500 Great Sacandaga Lake at Conklinville 19,360 16,010 18,750
04295000 Richelieu River (Lake Champlain) at Rouses Point, NY - Elevation in ft
above sea level
December 31, 1999 95.55 December 31, 1998 94.78
Average (1939-98) 95.50
Maximum daily 100.02 (1984) Minimum daily 93.25 (1954)
New York City reservoir system was at 75.4 percent of capacity on December 31, 1999.
Normal for this period is 77.6 percent of capacity.
# Note: Flow statistics based on data collected through December 31, 1999.
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Provisional Data for December 1999
INDEX OBSERVATION WELLS
The observation-well network generally reflects conditions in water-table sand and gravel
aquifers and does not necessarily reflect conditions in confined and bedrock aquifers.
Water levels in N1259, N1616, Q1249, Sa-1100, S1806, and S1810 have been affected by changes
in ground-water withdrawals or sewering.
Departure from Median
County Well No. Date Water Level (through 1997)
Albany A-636 12/29 10.51 - 0.15
Broome Bm-121 12/2 22.60 + 3.50
Cattaraugus Ct-121 12/6 7.24 - .09
Chautauqua Cu-10 12/7 37.53 -12.13
Chemung Cm-46 12/1 24.14 + .11
Chenango Cn-12 12/9 8.87 + .19
Cortland C-102 12/15 9.71 - 4.12
Dutchess Du-1009 12/9 13.41 + .56
Kings K1194 12/13 9.90 + .50
Madison M-178 12/15 7.85 - .60
Nassau N1259 1/4 44.28 - 6.33
Nassau N1616 1/4 68.73 - 3.27
Otsego Og-23 12/9 5.47 + .01
Queens Q1249 12/20 19.73 -10.93
St. Lawrence St-40 12/28 5.98 + .52
Saratoga Sa-1100 12/31 55.32 +18.94
Suffolk S1810 1/4 49.75 - .73
Suffolk S1812 12/29 44.67 - .43
Suffolk S4271 12/21 11.24 + .52
Suffolk S5517 12/21 41.75 + 1.47
Suffolk S8833 12/22 15.08 - .78
Wyoming Wo-4 12/28 12.83 - .03
* Water level in feet below land-surface datum unless noted with * which indicates
reference to sea level.
Note: Data for Oe-151, Sb-472, and S1806 unavailable.