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Home My WebLink About20051457 Ver 1_USGS streamflow and ground-water conditions in NC through Monday April 23 2012.msg_20120424Strickland, Bev From: John C Weaver Dcweaver @usgs.gov] Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 11:43 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 23, 2012 NC Drought advisory group, Inspection of precipitation maps for the state (http:/ /water.weather.gov /precip/ or http: / /www.nc- climate.ncsu.edu /mpe departure) indicate fairly decent but variable rainfall totals across North Carolina during the past week. Totals across most of the state are 0.5+ inch with higher amounts exceeding 2 inches in the mountains region, parts of the Sand Hills region, and along the central Outer Banks. The only areas indicated as having received less than 0.5 inch rainfall is part of the southern Coastal Plain and a few small areas in the central Yadkin River basin. Streamflow conditions responded to the rainfalls with increases that are still evident at the present time in parts of the state, particularly in the mountains region where widespread normal streamflow conditions are noted. Streamflow indicated on the current real -time streamflow map (http: / /waterwatch.usgs.gov/ new / ?m= real &r =nc &w= real %2Cmap) depict a mix of normal and below - normal conditions for the eastern half of the state. Below- normal conditions are visible in the western Piedmont, particularly in the Broad River where "less than 10th percentile" conditions are fairly widespread. Inspection of 28 -day average flows (http: / /waterwatch. usgs .gov /index.php ?m= pa28d &r =nc &w =map) indicates below - normal conditions in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions. The map also indicates 28 -day flows in the "less than 10th percentile" range from the Broad River basin east towards the lower Yadkin River basin then northeast towards the upper Neuse and Tar River basins. As of April 15 (Sunday), streamflow conditions indicate 52 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 83 percent just a week ago. Effects of the recent rains did not result in any substantial changes in the water levels for the wells shown on the Climate Response Network in North Carolina (http: / /ogw01.er.usgs .qov /crn /StateMaps /NC.html). Groundwater levels at the Blue Ridge, Piedmont, and Sand Hills observations wells are depicted in the normal range for 4 wells, below normal for 3 wells, and continued record low for the month the Chapel Hill well in Orange County and Marston well in Scotland County. Water levels in the 6 Coastal Plain wells 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. No changes were made to last week's USDM drought depictions for North Carolina. Draft 2 for this week's release was available as of Monday evening with no changes yet indicated for North Carolina. Given the widespread rainfall coverage during the past week, there does not appear to be any justification for any deterioration in NC drought categories for this week's USDM release. Whether improvements are warranted is subject to debate as streamflow conditions have seemingly been in a "roller coaster" pattern between the previous rainfall events. However, 30 -day percent of normal precipitation patterns suggest that some improvements could be warranted in parts of the central and northern mountains as well as parts of the Sand Hills region (http:/ /www.nc - climate.ncsu.edu /mpe departure /). Streamflow conditions in the Broad River basin continue to depict much below - normal conditions on the real -time streamflow map (http: / /waterwatch.usgs.gov / ?m= real &r =nc &w= real %2Cmap). While deterioration for this week's release may not be appropriate given some rainfall occurred in that region, this area continues to be one of concern and in need of continued close monitoring. 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 evening, draft 2 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 again the USDM author for this week's release. In the email accompanying draft 2, 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 4/23/2012 1200 UTC— Created 4/23/12 23:55 UTC -- Streamflow -- 4: 110,111MITITERIT110111111111 Current conditions are depicted as real -time, 7 -day, 14 -day, and 28 -day flows available in the WaterWatch series of maps at: http://waterwatch.usgs.gov/classic/?m=real&r=nc&w=real%2Cmap Current conditions... Tuesday, April 24, 2012 08 :30ET WIM MUSIGS Last week's conditions... Tuesday, April 17, 2012 09 :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 23 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 17 Current flow (% of) Median Apr 23 02053200 Potecasi Creek near Union (Hertford) -- 17 cfs 460 cfs 4650 99 cfs 02106500 Black River near Tomahawk (Sampson) -- 273 cfs 222 cfs 400 557 cfs 02085500 Flat River at Bahama (Durham) -- 18 cfs 102 cfs 1200 85 cfs 02096960 Haw River near Bynum (Chatham) -- 286 cfs 1,240 cfs 1750 708 cfs 02115360 Yadkin River at Enon (Yadkin) -- 1,720 cfs 3,280 cfs 1480 2,220 cfs 02152100 First Broad River near Casar (Cleveland) -- 39 cfs 37 cfs 460 81 cfs 03451500 French Broad River at Asheville (Buncombe) -- 1,650 cfs 1,950 cfs 890 2,190 cfs 03550000 Valley River at Tomotla (Cherokee) -- 160 cfs 206 cfs 760 270 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 23, 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 23, 2012 As of April 22 (Sunday), the graph of 7 -day flow percentiles shown below indicates 52 percent of sites across North Carolina have percentiles for 7 -day average flows falling below the 25th percentile for the calendar date. And 27 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 15 (Sunday), the current values indicate improvements in overall streamflow conditions during course of the past week, considering 83% of sites across the state were below the 25th percentile and 45% 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 23 (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 2, 2012 M Previous 30 days Monday, April 2, 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 D ❑ 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 Window Help El 0 Layers E] 2 .,automated DM maps (short string) E] ❑�r (weekly change in 7 -day median percerj E- ®all other values�, 10 to 25 percentile increase 25 to 50 percentile decrease Greaterthan 50 percentile decrease E Editor — , <<f0r`I— --re ate 141c:s•,,. FeatuI,e Source Selection Displ i0 1 � III, I ❑ — — O trial 1 B . B I U — — .,Ow Drawing ! >, } � — -- Ground Water -- 10 5 to 10 percentile increase 0 to 5 percentile increase 0 No percentile change B to 5 percentile decrease 5 to 10 percentile decrease 10 to 25 percentile decrease 25 to 50 percentile decrease Greaterthan 50 percentile decrease E Editor — , <<f0r`I— --re ate 141c:s•,,. FeatuI,e Source Selection Displ i0 1 � III, I ❑ — — O trial 1 B . B I U — — .,Ow Drawing ! >, } � — -- 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. WEST Iuefi4d amsbu evi 58 aufort M M 1141 ' 3Ct]13 ` North Myrtle Beach Oarden City Beach o rg etown 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 ....._ _....aee .......ee �25 7 75 9 >0 ..°°°sees New ....gees....... Not Low Much Below Below Normal Above brluch 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 27,86 'i 2119.28 28,66 y CU 2119.66 4 28.2$ } LO 4F z y 2118.86 c5 28.4$ G] L m ^� 2118.6$ Q 28.66 ci DO 4J to 4 2118.46 L O 28.86 CU 2118.26 c G 29.66 O Mar Apr Apr Apr L ca 31 67 14 21 2612 2612 2612 2612 - - -- 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 27.9 212919 m Q. 28.0 2119.9 4J 11 4 2919 2118.9 � d Duo 39.9 2117.9 z Qz 31.9 2118.9 32.9 211519 } cu �} 33.0 2114.9 L C6 Q% cu G 34.0 211319 M J H C � a 35.0 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) CU Q. 7.35 670.65 7.40 670.60 7.50 670.50 L CU CU C CL Map Apr Apr Apr 31 07 14 21 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 27 +45 CU 4 m (U 347 +55 � 6.5 671 +5 4J U 27 +59 7 +9 671 +9 G 347 +59 {y 27 +55 } L) z 7 +5 347 +45 679 +5 o L Z M 347 +49 8 +9 (U � 27 +65 679 +9 C y (} �} L 8 +5 27 +79 669 +5 4J } 4ti L C6 Gi Q +} ° 9 +9 669 +9 s 0 27 +75 -J CU r H � a 9 +5 224 668 +5 L May Jul Sep Now Jan Mar c 2911 2911 2911 2911 2912 2912 — Daily nean depth to water level Period of provisional data 347 +29 0 L Period of approved data (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) 27 +45 m 347 +55 'U U 27 +59 347 +59 {y 27 +55 347 +45 27 +69 Z 347 +49 (U � 27 +65 y 347 +35 Q 27 +79 } 4ti 347 +39 L 0 27 +75 CU 347 +25 s L *' CL 27 +89 c 347 +29 0 L C7 Mar Apr Apr Apr 31 97 14 21 2912 2912 2912 2912 - - -- Provisional Data Subject to Revision - - -- 15 UPS 3 544040 78403101 WK -284 LAK E' HEELER RS MW-3 S (RE G 0LITH'W at) 25.99 359.99 4 4} GF N 25,59 349,59 � y 26.99 349.99 G } G] Z t 26,59 348.59 L � O 27.99 348.99 +4 r r-I ° .0-1 27,59 7.5$ y y ,, 28.99 347,99 L G: G a= M >- 28,5$ N May Jul Sep Now Jan Mar r 0 2911 2911 2911 2911 2912 2912 ca — 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,) 2.00 C 41 54.00 e« 2.50 53.50 m 3.00 z 53.00 L m 3.50 CU L (U 4J D 0 52.50 4.00 L CU -P m CL 52.00 L 4.50 0 Mar Apr Apr Apr 31 07 14 21 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 �- #09t9 } 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