The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About20051457 Ver 1_USGS streamflow and ground-water conditions in NC through Monday April 16 2012.msg_20120417Strickland, Bev From: John C Weaver Dcweaver @usgs.gov] Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 11:30 AM To: Jackson, Donna Cc: Ashley. E.Hatchell @usace. army. miI; brian.cullen @noaa.gov; Brian. Hai nes @ncdenr.gov; david.lane @ncdenr.gov; debra.owen @ncdenr.gov; eric.seymour @noaa.gov; gagalleh @duke - energy.com; garry_grabow @ncsu.edu; george.mathews @noaa.gov; harold.m.brady @ncdenr.gov; jamie.kritzer @ncdenr.gov; jcweaver @usgs.gov; Jeff.Orrock @noaa.gov; jim.prevette @ncdenr.gov; jucilene.hoffmann @ncdenr.gov; Lara.Pagano @noaa.gov; Linwood Peele; Michael .A.Young @saw02.usace. army. miI; michael.moneypenny @noaa.gov; mike.orbon @ncdenr.gov; neelufa.sarwar @ncdenr.gov; Patricia. Tanner @noaa.gov; Peter. Corrigan @noaa.gov; richard.neuherz @noaa.gov; ryan_boyles @ncsu.edu; sarah.young @ncdenr.gov; todd.hamill @noaa.gov; Tom.Fransen @ncdenr.gov; tom.reeder @ncdenr.gov; tony_dorn @nass.usda.gov; Torey_Lawrence @nass.usda.gov; Vernon. Cox @ncagr.gov; Wayne.Munden @ncdenr.gov; woody. yonts @ncdenr.gov; Brian Fuchs; Allison.Wash @va.usda.gov; Kathleen Carroll; Darin Figurskey; Glenn Carrin; Yonts, Woody; wly Subject: USGS streamflow and ground -water conditions in NC through Monday, April 16, 2012 NC Drought advisory group, There was no rain across most all North Carolina during the past week, according to precipitation maps for the state ( http : / /water.weather.gov /precip/ or http : / /www.nc - climate.ncsu.edu /mpe departure). Only a few areas in the Coastal Plain are noted as having received less than 0.25 inch rainfall during the period. With no rainfall, streamflow conditions are quickly declining across most of the state. Streamflow conditions indicated on the current real -time streamflow map (http: / /waterwatch.usgs.gov/ new / ?m= real &r =nc &w= real %2Cmap) indicate below - normal conditions practically statewide, with only a small area normal streamflow conditions depicted in the New River basin and parts of upper Yadkin River headwaters in northwest corner of the state. Widespread conditions in the "less than 10th percentile" range are visible across much of the state. Record low streamflow for the current calendar day are depicted for numerous USGS streamgages in the eastern half of the state. Inspection of 28 -day average flows (http: / /waterwatch. uses .gov /index.php ?m= pa28d &r =nc &w =map) indicates below - normal conditions across the southern half of the state and the Coastal Plain. The largest area of 28 -day flows in the "less than 10th percentile" range is from the Broad River basin east towards the southern Yadkin River basin. As of April 15 (Sunday), streamflow conditions indicate 83 percent of sites across North Carolina have percentiles for 7- day average flows falling below the 25th percentile for the calendar date (see graph below). This percentage suggests substantial declines in overall streamflows relative to 48 percent just a week ago. Groundwater levels at the 10 Blue Ridge, Piedmont, and Sand Hills observations wells shown on the Climate Response Network in North Carolina ( http:// ogw01. er. usgs.gov /crn /StateMaps /NC.html) are depicted in the normal range for 4 wells, below normal for 4 wells, and continued record low for the month the Chapel Hill well in Orange County and Marston well in Scotland County. Effects of the recent rains have faded away in the six Coastal Plain wells as water levels are quickly declining. Water levels are depicted in the below - normal range for 3 wells, much below - normal range for the well at Elizabeth City, and record low for the month at the Southport well in Brunswick County and the Hoke well in Washington County. The only changes made to last week's USDM for North Carolina was a D1 expansion across the northeast Piedmont into parts of the northern Coastal Plain. Draft 1 for this week's release was available as of Monday afternoon with no changes yet indicated for North Carolina. While major impacts have not been reported, it appears the shift towards warmer months and no continual and beneficial rainfalls are leading towards quickly deteriorating conditions. Based on the lack of rainfall and declining hydrologic conditions, there appears to some justification for adjustments in drought categories in the following regions: (1) Parts of the southern Piedmont from the Broad River basin east towards the southern Yadkin basin and Sand Hills region where 30 -day percent of normal precipitation (PNP) for some areas is within the 25 to 50 percent range. Perhaps another week or so of continued monitoring could be justified if no major impacts are present( ?). Any deterioration would involve the introduction of D2 (severe). (2) Western tip of North Carolina where 30 -day PNP in the 10 to 24 percent range for parts of this area ... DO needs to be filled in for the parts Cherokee County showing D- nothing... possible D1 expansion towards parts of Clay and Macon Counties. Comments and opinions welcome... Thanks. JCWeaver ****************************** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** J. Curtis Weaver, Hydrologist, PE USGS North Carolina Water Science Center 3916 Sunset Ridge Road Raleigh, NC 27607 Phone: (919) 571 -4043 H Fax: (919) 571 -4041 Mobile: (919) 830 -6235 E -mail address -- jcweaver @usgs.gov Internet address --.http://nc.water.usgs.gov ****************************** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** -- USDM draft (if available) -- As of Monday afternoon, draft 1 for this week's version was available with no changes yet indicated for North Carolina. Anthony Artusa, meteorologist with the Climate Prediction Center in Camp Springs, Maryland, is the USDM author for this week's release. In the email accompanying draft 1, he made no specific comments concerning Carolinas region. USDM archive (you can select North Carolina from the drop -down box near the top, a quick way to see the last two USDM releases): http: / /drought.unl.edu /dm /archive.html -- Observed precipitation -- Sources of precipitation totals are available from the following: (1) USGS rainfall totals (sorted by county) for the last 7 days at http : / /waterdata.usgs.gov /nc /nwis /current ?tvpe = precip &group kev= county cd (2) State Climate Office of North Carolina at http : / /www.nc - climate.ncsu.edu /mpe departure/ (3) NOAA NWS's Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service at http://water.weather.gov/preci shown below pulled from the NOAA NWS's Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service at http: / /water.weather.gov /precip/ North Carolina: Current 7 —Day Observed Precipitation Valid at 4/17/2012 1200 UTC— Created 4/17/12 13:55 UTC -- Streamflow -- 4: I � •* 1 111111111 Current conditions are depicted as real -time, 7 -day, 14 -day, and 28 -day flows available in the WaterWatch series of maps at: httD:Hwaterwatch. usas.aov/ classic / ?m= real &r =nc &w= real %2Cma Current conditions... 4 Tuesday, April 17, 2012 09 :30ET WIM MUSIGS Last week's conditions... Tuesday, April 10, 2012 08 :30ET When viewing the USGS WaterWatch streamflow information, you can hover your cursor over a site and a pop -up box Explanation - Percentile classes ......,. Lew X10 1 5 -7 r 6 -90 > . � dol- ranked Ajr m ed u w __I , 4OW Ahpvp MUch abO �8l tral . rmal � When viewing the USGS WaterWatch streamflow information, you can hover your cursor over a site and a pop -up box appears with various pieces of information, including the percentile for the current streamflow AND the current percentage of mean and median for the calendar date. Highlighting current flows (April 17 morning) at some selected gaging stations (obtained from http : / /waterdata.usgs.gov /nc /nwis /current / ?type =flow ): Site number Site name (and County) Flow Apr 10 Current flow (% of) Median Apr 17 02053200 Potecasi Creek near Union (Hertford) -- 66 cfs 17 cfs 150 111 cfs 02106500 Black River near Tomahawk (Sampson) -- 669 cfs 273 cfs 27% 1,010 cfs 02085500 Flat River at Bahama (Durham) -- 27 cfs 18 cfs 17% 109 cfs 02096960 Haw River near Bynum (Chatham) -- 417 cfs 286 cfs 300 969 cfs 02115360 Yadkin River at Enon (Yadkin) -- 2,260 cfs 1,720 cfs 660 2,620 cfs 02152100 First Broad River near Casar (Cleveland) -- 52 cfs 39 cfs 460 85 cfs 03451500 French Broad River at Asheville (Buncombe) -- 1,960 cfs 1,650 cfs 680 2,430 cfs 03550000 Valley River at Tomotla (Cherokee) -- 200 cfs 160 cfs 54% 297 cfs Focusing on the 7-day average flows... Visit the WaterWatch pages at http: / /waterwatch.usgs.gov /classic / ?r =nc to get the most recent data for sites of interest. Durations plots for selected individual USGS stations can be accessed at http: / /nc.water.usgs.gov /drought /duration.html The OVERALL 7 -day average flows by HUC map (http:Hwaterwatch.usgs.gov /classic / ?m= pa07d &r= nc &w =pa07d nwc %2Cmap) are depicted in the image below: Monday, April 16, 2012 I, SGS 6 To help provide more detail by major basin, the BELOW NORMAL 7 -day average flows by HUC map (http: / /waterwatch.usgs.gov /classic /index.php ?map type =drvw &state =nc) are depicted in the image below: Monday, April 16, 2012 As of April 15 (Sunday), the graph of 7 -day flow percentiles shown below indicates 83 percent of sites across North Carolina have percentiles for 7 -day average flows falling below the 25th percentile for the calendar date. And 45 percent of sites across North Carolina are shown as having 7 -day average flows below the 10th percentile or reaching new minimum for calendar date. Compared to April 08 (Sunday), the current values indicate substantial declines in overall streamflow conditions during course of the past week, considering 48% of sites across the state were below the 25th percentile and 16% of sites were below 10th percentile and /or reaching new minimum for the calendar date. Below is a graph developed from the 7 -day average flow summary table available at: http: / /waterwater.usgs.gov/ classic / ?m= pa07d &r= nc &w= paO7d %2Ctable 1 f Less than 25th percentile Less than 10th percentile New min forthe clay Percentage of sites in North Carolina with 7 -day indicated percentile range or love Date M Another measure of the streamflow conditions is available from maps of median percentiles for 7 -day average flows for the previous 7 -, 14- 30 -, 60 -, and 90 -day periods updated through April 16 (Monday). These maps are intended to provide some kind of "long- term" index of the streamflow conditions (not available through the USGS WaterWatch pages) that is mapped according to the classification scheme for streamflow used by the U.S. Drought Monitor. Map images (via the above URL) showing the median percentiles for 7 -day average flows for previous 7 and 30 days are shown below. http: / /nc. water. usgs .gov /drought/dm- streamflow.html 8 Previous 7 days Monday, April 1, 2012 Previous 30 days Monday, April 1, 2012 Explanation No - No Drought ( >30 percentile) DO - Abnormally Dry (21 to 30 percentile) D1 - Moderate Drought (11 to 20 percentile) D2 - Severe Drought (6 to 10 percentile) D3 - Extreme Drought (3 to 5 percentile) D4 - Exceptional Drought (0 to 2 percentile) n/d - Not determined Unregulated Regulated a III 0 ❑ 0 The following ArcMap screenshot shows the change in the median percentiles of 7 -day average flows for 7 -day period from last week (with last week's U.S. Drought Monitor in the background). In other words, at a given site, take last week's median percentile and compare it to this week's median percentile. Sites in red indicate a decrease in the median percentile from last week to this week (suggesting a decline in streamflow). Sites in blue indicate an increase in the median percentile from last week to this week (suggesting an improvement decline in streamflow). The size of the circles indicates the general range in percentile increase or decrease (note legend to left of the map). File Edit View Bookmarks Insert Selection Tools Windoor.? Help El 0 Layers E] 2 Automated DM maps (short string) all othervalues>- fD 10 to 25 percentile increase Editor Neve Feature I 25 to 50 percentile decrease Greater than 50 p ercentile decrease Sr Displ Source Selection _i Erauwing El t {ril 7Q B I U A r _ -- Ground Water -- 10 5 to 10 percentile increase B to,5 percentile increase No percentile change B to,5 percentile decrease 5 to 10 percentile decrease 10 to 25 percentile decrease Editor Neve Feature I 25 to 50 percentile decrease Greater than 50 p ercentile decrease Sr Displ Source Selection _i Erauwing El t {ril 7Q B I U A r _ -- Ground Water -- 10 Please visit the North Carolina Real -Time Network page at http: / /groundwaterwatch. usqs. gov /StateMapsNet.asp ?ncd= rtn &sc =37 (map shown below) for more information on ground -water conditions at selected USGS observation wells in North Carolina. Shown below are the hydrographs at four selected wells across North Carolina... real -time page for USGS ground water data in NC is available at http: / /waterdata.usgs.gov /nc /nwis /current ?tvpe =qw (MOUNTAINS) NC -144 at Blantyre in Transylvania County (http: / /waterdata.usgs.gov /nc /nwis /dv / ?site no= 351808082374302 &agency cd =USGS &referred module =sw) 11 New <f 1024 . ..................................... ................................ X25 7 75 9 >0 New ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ Not Low Mich Below Below -- Normal Above hrluoh Above' High Ranked Normal Normal Normal Normal Shown below are the hydrographs at four selected wells across North Carolina... real -time page for USGS ground water data in NC is available at http: / /waterdata.usgs.gov /nc /nwis /current ?tvpe =qw (MOUNTAINS) NC -144 at Blantyre in Transylvania County (http: / /waterdata.usgs.gov /nc /nwis /dv / ?site no= 351808082374302 &agency cd =USGS &referred module =sw) 11 12 USES 351808082374302 TR -065 HC -144) AT BLANTYRE, HC (RE OLITH C 2119 +99 28 +29 y n� � 2118 +$$ � 28 +4$ a } �F 2118 +69 L7 28 CU G] L +6$ m 2118 +49 CU L +. 28 +89 CU C: L 2118 +2$ � 29 +99 C C d L L Mar Mar Apr Apr ca 24 31 97 14 2912 2912 2912 2912 - - -- Provisional Data Subject to Revision - - -- 0 Measured depth to water level — Depth to water level 12 (WESTERN PIEDMONT) NC -193, Piedmont RS near Barber in Rowan County (http: / /waterdata .usgs.gov /nc /nwis /dv / ?dd cd =01 72019 00003 &format =imq default &site no= 354057080362601 &set to qscale v =0 &begin date = 20070319) 13 USES 351 0808237430 TR -065 (SIC -144) AT BLANTYRE, HC (RE OLITH a 27.E 2129.9 m Q. .0 28 +9 2119.9 4 29 +9 2118.9 � d Duo 39.9 2117.9 z QL 31.9 2118.9 32.9 211519 } cu �} 33 +$ 2114.9 L C6 Q% cu G 34 +$ 211319 M J H C � CE 35 +6 L May Jul Sep Now Jan mar 2911 2911 2911 2911 2912 2912 — Daily nean depth to water level Period of provisional data Period of approved data (WESTERN PIEDMONT) NC -193, Piedmont RS near Barber in Rowan County (http: / /waterdata .usgs.gov /nc /nwis /dv / ?dd cd =01 72019 00003 &format =imq default &site no= 354057080362601 &set to qscale v =0 &begin date = 20070319) 13 14 USGS 354057080362601 RO-149 (NC-193) PIEDMONT RS 1 NR BARBER (REGOLITH) a CU CU Q. L CU 7.55 670.45 CU CL 7.60 670.40 r- ID Map Mar Apr Apr 24 31 07 14 2012 2012 2012 2012 ---- Provisional Data Subject to Revision ---- 14 (EASTERN l T) Local number WK -284, NCDENR Lake Wheeler Research Station at Raleigh in Wake County (http: // groundwaterwatch .usgs.gov /AWLSites.asp ?S= 354404078403101 &ncd =rtn) USES 354057080362801 FAO -149 (NC-193) PIEDMONT FMS 1 NR BARBER ( E OLITH) a 672 +9 1 6 +9 0LITHWELL) 0 347 +59 CU 4 (U 27 +55 � 6.5 671 +5 4J 347 +45 of F1 Q 27 +69 7 +9 671 +9 G 347 +49 27 +65 } L) a Lo � z ' C 7 +5 z 679 +5 L > 347 +39 M -0 8 +9 679 +9 +4 C 347 +25 CU Q 27 +89 (} �} L 8 +5 (U DO 669 +5 4J 347 +29 L C6 27 +85 Gi Q m *' +} ° 9 +9 347 +15 669 +9 s 27 +99 -J 4� r H 347 +1$ 7 ° � a 9 +5 668 +5 L 14 Hay Jul Sep Now Jan Mar 0 2912 2912 2912 2911 2911 2911 2911 2912 2912 — Daily nean depth to water level Period of provisional data Revision - - -- Period of approved data - Depth to water level (EASTERN l T) Local number WK -284, NCDENR Lake Wheeler Research Station at Raleigh in Wake County (http: // groundwaterwatch .usgs.gov /AWLSites.asp ?S= 354404078403101 &ncd =rtn) 15 USES 3 544040 78403101 WK -284 LAK E' HEELER RS MW-3 S (RE G 0LITHWELL) 347 +59 27 +55 347 +45 of F1 Q 27 +69 N rn 347 +49 27 +65 a Lo � 347 +35 z 27 +79 > 347 +39 27 +75 +4 L' 347 +25 CU Q 27 +89 (U DO 347 +29 27 +85 m *' 347 +15 L 27 +99 c 4� 347 +1$ 7 ° Mar Mar Apr Apr 24 31 97 14 0 2912 2912 2912 2912 - - -- Provisional data Subject to Revision - - -- - Depth to water level — Lowest recorded water level prior to MY2911 (27 +89 ft Dec 12, 2998) 15 UPS 3 544040 78403101 WK -284 LAK E' HEELER RS MW-3 S (RE G 0LITH'W at) 25.99 359.99 4 GF 4} 25,59 349,59 N y 26.99 349.99 } Z G] 26,59 348.59 L t � O *' 27.99 348.99 +4 r r-I ° � 27,59 347.5$ y r-I 28.99 347,99 L G: a= G M 28,5$ N May Jul Sep Now Jan Mar r 0 2911 2911 2911 2911 2912 2912 0 0 — Daily naxinun depth to water level Daily nininun depth to water level --Daily nean depth to water level Period of approved data Period of provisional data Lowest recorded water level prior to MY2911 (27.89 ft Dec 12, 2998) (COASTAL PLAIN) NC -160 near Simpson in Pitt County ( http:/ /waterdata.usgs.gov /nc /nwis /dv/ ?site no= 353219077153801 &agency cd =USGS &referred module =sw) 16 17 USES 353219077153801 PI-532 (NC-160) NR IMP ON, NC (SURFICIAL,) 3.00 53.20 4J CU CU Q. 3.20 53.00 3.40 52.80 z 0 3.60 52.60 (U L m L 3.80 CU (U -P - 52.40 D 0 4.00 L CU - 52.20 m CL 4.20 C J 52.00 L Mar Mar Apr Apr 24 31 07 14 2012 2012 2012 2012 ---- Provisional Data Subject to Revision ---- 17 18 USGS 353 19077153801 PI -532 (NC-160) NR SIMPSON, N URFI IAL) O 4ti 1.9 55.0 Q- 0 ry 2 +9 54 *0 S 0% 3.9 #$ 52.0 41 +9 51.0 �- a 6.9 59.9 } CU r - 7.9 49.0 rl L C6 p 8.9 Gi P 48.0 s N 9.0 C o May Jul Sep Nov Jan Mar 2911 2011 2011 2011 2912 2912 0 — Daily nean depth to water level Period of approved data Period of provisional data — Lowest recorded water level prior to MY2011 (8.97 ft Oct 23,24, 2007) 18