U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
WATER-RESOURCES CONDITIONS IN
NEW YORK
FEBRUARY 2003
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, WRD
New York District, Troy, NY
WATER RESOURCES REVIEW AND CURRENT CONDITIONS STATEMENT
FOR FEBRUARY 2003
Prepared February 28, 2003
Troy Subdistrict--Summary Report
Provisional streamflow conditions at sites monitored and included in this report in
eastern New York were in the normal to deficient range. Adjustments were made to flows at
most sites due to ice affect. Extreme ice conditions were reported for nine sites in
northern New York and therefore these sites were not included in this report. Although
conditions at almost all sites herein decreased from the previous month, only those for
Hudson River at Hadley, Wappinger Creek near Wappingers Falls, and East Branch Delaware
River at Margaretville were in the deficient range.
The total New York City reservoir system was at 90.3 percent of capacity on February 28;
normal for this period is 83.4 percent of capacity.
Ithaca Subdistrict--Summary Report
Provisional streamflow conditions at sites monitored and included in this report for
western New York were in the normal range at Susquehanna River at Conklin, Unadilla River
at Rockdale, Chenango River at Chenango Forks, Chemung River at Chemung, Cattaraugus Creek
at Gowanda, Tonawanda Creek at Batavia, Fall Creek at Ithaca, Flint Creek at Phelps, and
Oneida Creek at Oneida. Monitored sites at Allegheny River at Salamanca, Genesee River at
Wellsville, and Oatka Creek at Garbutt decreased to the deficient range from the previous
month. All sites were adjusted for ice.
Coram Subdistrict--Summary Report
Mean flow at Connetquot Brook near Central Islip was in the normal range.
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Provisional Data for February 2003
MEAN FLOW FOR SELECTED GAGING STATIONS
Period
of record Flow Percent
Station (to date) (cfs) Exceedence Conditions
01306460 Connetquot Brook nr Central Islip 1978 26 54 Normal
01312000 Hudson River at Newcomb 1925-87,2002 e110 75 Normal
01318500 Hudson River at Hadley 1921 e1,100 85 Deficient
01321000 Sacandaga River nr Hope 1911 excessive ice cover
01334500 Hoosic River near Eagle Bridge 1910 excessive ice cover
01350000 Schoharie Creek at Prattsville 1902 excessive ice cover
01357500 Mohawk River at Cohoes 1917 4,450 59 Normal
01371500 Wallkill River at Gardiner 1924 excessive ice cover
01372500 Wappinger Cr nr Wappingers Falls 1928 e220 76 Deficient
01413500 E Br Delaware River at Margaretville 1937 166 80 Deficient
01420500 Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls 1913 excessive ice cover
01423000 W Br Delaware River at Walton 1950 excessive ice cover
01426000 Oquaga Creek at Deposit 1941-73,2002 unavailable
01502500 Unadilla River at Rockdale 1930-95,2001 e760 53 Normal
01503000 Susquehanna River at Conklin 1912 e3,000 60 "
01512500 Chenango River nr Chenango Forks 1912 e2,100 53 "
01531000 Chemung River at Chemung 1903 e1,500 66 Normal
03011020 Allegheny River at Salamanca 1903 e1,300 82 Deficient
04213500 Cattaraugus Creek at Gowanda 1940-98,2000 e620 69 Normal
04217000 Tonawanda Creek at Batavia 1944 163 76 Deficient
04221000* Genesee River at Wellsville 1916 e180 80 "
04230500 Oatka Creek at Garbutt 1945 160 79 Deficient
04234000 Fall Creek at Ithaca 1925 e190 54 Normal
04235250 Flint Creek at Phelps 1960-95,2002 e78 61 "
04243500 Oneida Creek at Oneida 1950 e210 53 Normal
04256000 Independence River at Donnattsburg 1942 excessive ice cover
04262500 W Br Oswegatchie R nr Harrisville 1916 300 62 Normal
04270200 Little Salmon River at Bombay 1958-95,2002 excessive ice cover
04275500 Ausable River at Au Sable Forks 1910-68,1990 excessive ice cover
e Estimated
* Includes 04221500-Genesee River at Scio (1916-72)
MONTHLY MEAN DISCHARGE FOR SELECTED STREAMFLOW STATIONS
Provisional Data for February 2003
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 Sa-1100, and S1810 have been affected by changes in ground-water withdrawals
or sewering. Water level in feet below land-surface datum unless site noted with * which
indicates reference to sea level or ** which indicates water level in feet above land-surface
datum. Statistics used for A-654(replacement) are from A-636, those for Cm-622(replacement)
are from Cm-46 (adjusted), and those for U-1619(replacement) are from U-405.
NOTE: Review of the long-term record for S8833 has shown historical water-level elevations
from Dec. 29, 1988 to Dec. 23, 2002 were in error by 1.05 ft. This discrepancy is due to
a change in measuring-point elevation at the well that was not accounted for in the
computer record. All water-level data for the period in question has now been corrected
accordingly.
Record Percent
County Well No. begins Date Water Level Exceedence Conditions
Albany A-654 2002 2/25 9.56 41 Normal
Allegany Ag-261 2002 2/24 4.71 - --
Allegany Ag-262 2002 2/24 frozen - --
Broome Bm-128 1980 2/19 24.63 28 Normal
Broome Bm-129 1985 2/20 68.74 44 Normal
Cattaraugus Ct-121 1984 2/24 7.77 76 Deficient
Chautauqua Cu-10 1939 2/24 25.60 67 Normal
Chemung Cm-622 2002 2/20 23.73 30 "
Chenango Cn-12 1975 2/20 8.93 42 Normal
Clinton Cl-145 1992 2/27 23.41 89 Deficient
Cortland C-998 2002 2/20 5.05 - --
Delaware D-503 2002 2/13 5.73 - --
Dutchess Du-1009 1967 2/11 13.65 60 Normal
Essex Ex-150 2002 2/20 23.81 - --
Fulton Fu-271 2002 2/24 16.13 - --
Genesee Gs-190 2002 2/25 35.68 - --
Hamilton H-3 1966 2/24 13.83 64 Normal
Lewis L-174 2002 2/24 24.44 - --
Madison M-178 1975 2/20 7.54 71 Normal
Oneida Oe-151 1926 2/24 25.54 77 Deficient
Ontario **Ot-900 1955 2/26 frozen - --
Ontario Ot-1133 2002 2/26 3.27 - --
Orange O-2271 2002 2/11 6.65 - --
Oswego Ow-5013 2002 2/20 22.75 - --
Oswego Ow-5014 2002 2/20 23.06 - --
Otsego Og-23 1953 2/20 6.03 72 Normal
Rockland Ro-18 1949 2/11 16.91 60 Normal
St. Lawrence St-40 1953 2/27 7.26 80 Deficient
Saratoga Sa-1285 2002 2/27 2.68 - --
Steuben Sb-472 1965 2/24 9.03 67 Normal
Suffolk *S1810 1976 2/27 47.56 94 Deficient
Suffolk *S1812 1982 2/25 43.62 92 Deficient
Suffolk *S4271 1946 2/25 10.48 60 Normal
Suffolk *S5517 1948 2/28 40.71 71 "
Suffolk *S8833 1951 2/27 15.42 72 Normal
Sullivan Sv-535 2001 2/11 9.92 - --
Ulster U-1619 2002 2/11 17.42 40 Normal
Washington W-533 1974 2/25 6.65 68 Normal
Wyoming Wo-4 1974 2/25 13.24 91 Deficient
INDEX OBSERVATION WELLS
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 2,352 2,641 2,041
01323500 Great Sacandaga Lake at Conklinville 14,430 13,100 13,100
04295000 Richelieu River (Lake Champlain) at Rouses Point, NY - Elevation in ft
above sea level
February 27, 2003 94.65 February 28, 2002 94.67
Average (1939-2001) 95.54
Maximum daily 98.99 (1981) Minimum daily 93.55 (1948)
Provisional Data for February 2003#
INDEX STREAMFLOW STATIONS
(Reference period 1971-2000)
## Reference period is 1978-2000
* Deficient.
e Estimate
# Note: Flow statistics based on data collected through February 28, 2003.
NOTES, DEFINITIONS, ETC.
Percent exceedence is, for example, the percentage of November monthly mean discharges for
period of record equal to or greater than the current November monthly mean discharge.
Statistics for the "Index Streamflow Stations" table are for the 30-year reference period
1971-2000. All other statistics used in report are based on the period of record at the site.
Median = 50th percentile, which means that, for the period of record included in the analysis,
50% of the values are greater than the median and 50% are less.
Deficient range = values below the 25th percentile - for the period of record included in the
analysis, 75% of the values are greater and 25% are less than this value.
Excessive range = values above the 75th percentile - for the period of record included in the
analysis, 25% of the values are greater and 75% are less than this value.
Normal range = values between the 25th and 75th percentiles.