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Home My WebLink About20051457 Ver 1_USGS streamflow and ground-water conditions in NC through Monday August 06 2012.msg_20120807Strickland, Bev From: John C Weaver Dcweaver @usgs.gov] Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2012 11:19 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, August 06, 2012 NC Drought advisory group, Examination of maps for showing precipitation totals across North Carolina during the past week (http:/ /water.weather.gov /precip/ or http : / /www.nc - climate.ncsu.edu /mpe departure) indicates good widespread coverage in much of the mountains region as well as the Sand Hills and southern /central Coastal Plain regions. Within these areas, rainfall totals were generally 0.5 inch or above with some higher amounts exceeding 2 to 3 inches noted in a "hit -n- miss" pattern. In the much of the Piedmont and northern Coastal Plain, rainfall totals were generally 0.5 inch or less with just a few areas of exception receiving higher amounts in the range of about 1 inch. Streamflow conditions depicted on the real -time streamflow map (http:Hwaterwatch.usgs.gov / ?m= real &r =nc &w= real %2Cmap) again echo the rainfall patterns noted above for the past week. Widespread conditions in the normal ranges (with some above - normal conditions noted) are visible on the map across most of the mountains region as well as the southern and central Coastal Plain. Below- normal conditions are noted in the Piedmont and northern Coastal Plain regions, the areas noted above as receiving generally less than 0.5 inch rainfall during the past week. Below- normal conditions also appear to be in effect along the SC border from the Sand Hills into the extreme southern Coastal Plain. Inspection of the 28 -day average streamflow map (http: / /waterwatch. usgs .gov /index.php ?m= pa28d &r =nc &w =map) indicates the largest concentration of below - normal conditions in the South Fork Catawba River basin as well parts of the Dan River basin (Roanoke) and upper Neuse and Tar River basins. As of August 05 (Sunday), streamflow conditions indicate 37 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 minor declines in overall streamflows relative to 30 percent just a week ago. Water levels at the Blue Ridge, Piedmont, and Sand Hills observations wells in the Climate Response Network in North Carolina (http://ogwOl.er.usgs.gov/crn/StateMaps/NC.html) are depicted in the normal range for 5 wells, below normal for 3 wells, much below - normal for the Marston well in Scotland County (http: // qroundwaterwatch .usgs.gov /AWLSites.asp ?S= 345812079313401 &ncd =crn), and continued record low for the calendar month at the Chapel Hill well in Orange County. Water levels at the Coastal Plain observation wells are depicted in the above - normal ranges at 2 wells and the normal range for 4 wells, including the Southport well in Brunswick County (http: // qroundwaterwatch .usgs.gov /AWLSites.asp ?S= 335631078003606 &ncd =crn) where levels rose almost 3.5 feet during the past week following upwards of 3 inches rainfall during the past 7 days (http: / /nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov /nwis /uv ?site no= 335631078003606). This is the first instance since late December 2011 that water levels at this well have been noted in the normal range. Changes made to the USDM depiction for North Carolina in last week's release included substantial trimming of the DO category across the northeastern Piedmont region. As of this morning, the overall weather pattern during the past day (and forecast for the remainder of this week) is generally unsettled. Given the precipitation and streamflow patterns noted above, the NC drought group may want to consider the following: (1) Maintain the current small area of DO over the northeast Piedmont as rainfall coverage doesn't appear to have been substantial enough to justify removal. (2) Trim or remove( ?) the D1 across Brunswick and New Hanover Counties. However, the precipitation maps (http: / /water.weather.gov /precip /) suggest the rainfall coverage was concentrated in eastern Brunswick and New Hanover Counties. Water levels rose almost 3.5 feet in the Southport observation well (http: / /nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov /nwis /uv ?site no= 335631078003606). (3) Rainfall coverage during the past week may justify removal of the DO depicted along the SC border in the southern mountains region, particularly in vicinity of Transylvania, Henderson, and Polk Counties where 30 -day percent of normal precipitation values exceed 100% (http://water.weather.gov/preci 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 1 for this week's version was available with no changes yet indicated for North Carolina. Mark Svoboda, climatologist with the National Drought Mitigation Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, is again the USDM author for this week's release. 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 8/6/2012 1200 UTC— Created 8/6/12 23:55 UTC -- Streamflow -- 4: I � • 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, August 07, 2012 08 :30ET WIM MUSIGS Last week's conditions... Monday, July 30, 2012 16 :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 (August 07 morning) at some selected gaging stations (obtained from http : / /waterdata.usgs.gov /nc /nwis /current / ?type =flow ): Site number Site name (and County) Flow Jul 30 Current flow (% of) Median Aug 07 02053200 Potecasi Creek near Union (Hertford) -- 62 cfs 14 cfs 82% 17 cfs 02106500 Black River near Tomahawk (Sampson) -- 189 cfs 183 cfs 730 249 cfs 02085500 Flat River at Bahama (Durham) -- 18 cfs 3.2 cfs 15% 21 cfs 02096960 Haw River near Bynum (Chatham) -- 183 cfs 131 cfs 660 197 cfs 02115360 Yadkin River at Enon (Yadkin) -- 1,130 cfs 1,190 cfs 85% 1,400 cfs 02152100 First Broad River near Casar (Cleveland) -- 19 cfs 33 cfs 67% 49 cfs 03451500 French Broad River at Asheville (Buncombe) -- 780 cfs 1,700 cfs 134% 1,270 cfs 03550000 Valley River at Tomotla (Cherokee) -- 59 cfs 168 cfs 1660 101 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, Rugust 06, 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, Rugust 06, 2012 As of August 05 (Sunday), the graph of 7 -day flow percentiles shown below indicates 37 percent of sites across North Carolina have percentiles for 7 -day average flows falling below the 25th percentile for the calendar date. And 8 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 July 29 (Sunday), the current values indicate minor declines in overall streamflow conditions during course of the past week, considering 30% of sites across the state were below the 25th percentile and 7% 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 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 August 06 (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, August 0, 2012 S, 1 � Previous 30 days Monday, August 0, 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 IM 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 Window Help 1:,2 u 15I�IGi. T � ( � � �y g a - El Layers 0 automated DM maps (short string) Ed C ME 111 K , 1 1 � <all othervalues> � 10 to 25 percentile increase 25 to 50 percentile decrease Greater than 50 percentile decrease rrr r Editog Ca °eats Ne,,,,e Feature rte Display I Source I Selection Gatalag � iir °` —; � _iO Drawing _ °,:::11, ❑ W ; Ariel 7 B I U � � w � -- Ground Water -- 10 5 to 10 percentile increase B to,5 percentile increase No percentile change J to,5 percentile decrease 5 to 10 percentile decrease 10 to 25 percentile decrease 25 to 50 percentile decrease Greater than 50 percentile decrease rrr r Editog Ca °eats Ne,,,,e Feature rte Display I Source I Selection Gatalag � iir °` —; � _iO Drawing _ °,:::11, ❑ W ; Ariel 7 B I U � � w � -- 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 351 080823 '430 TR-065 (NC-144) AT BLANTYRE, NC (REGOLITH) 29.00 2118.00 4J CU Q. 3 29.50 2117.50 4J 30.00 2117.00 z 30.50 (U L 2116.50 m L (U 4J 31.00 CU D 0 2116.00 --' O L CU 4J 31.50 m 4J 2115.50 C CL 1 32.00 1 L 0 Jul Jul Jul Aug 14 21 28 04 2012 2012 2012 2012 ---- Provisional Data Subject to Revision ---- 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 Q. .0 28.0 2119.9 4 4 2919 2118.9 S d Duo 39.9 2117.9 z 31.9 2118.9 4J M 04 to 32.9 211519 } cu �} 4 33.0 2114.9 L Q cu G 34.0 211319 M J H r � a 35.0 L Sep Now Jan Mar May Jul 2911 2911 2912 2912 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 USES 354057080362801 FAO -149 (NC-193) PIEDMONT FMS 1 NR BARBER ( E OLITH) m C 4J r, 8.28 ply +89 669 .80 y 8 +4$ 669 +6$ G } �F L7 z 0 8 +6$ 669 +4$ Qb G] L m L CU } 4J 8 +89 669 +29 L 4J CU 4J m 9 +99 669 +99 C C d L Jul Jul Jul Aug LLa 14 21 28 94 2912 2912 2912 2912 - - -- Provisional Data Subject to Revision - - -- 0 Measured depth to water level — Depth to water level 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 CU 348 +19 W 26 +95 � 6.5 671 +5 4J 348 +95 7 +9 671 +9 G 348 +99 27 +95 } L) z ' C 7 +5 679 +5 L 347 +95 z 4 M -0 8 +9 L 679 +9 C 347 +9$ 0m ' 27 +15 (} �} L 8 +5 G} 669 +5 +. L C6 A Gi Q +} 0 669 +9 M s L 0 J 347 +8$ r H � a 9 +5 668 +5 L Sep Now Jan Mar May Jul 2911 2911 2912 2912 2912 2912 C — Daily nean depth to water level Period of provisional data 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) 348 +19 W 26 +95 e« 348 +95 348 +99 27 +95 d C7 a« 347 +95 z 27 +19 L 347 +9$ 0m ' 27 +15 G} L 347 +85 � A s 27 +29 L 0 347 +8$ GU t 27 +25 C 347 +75 ° 27 +39 Jul Jul Jul Aug 14 21 28 $4 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) �y �y�y 26 +99 +} �y �y�y 349 +99 y 26 +59 348 +59 4. 27 +99 348 +99 �} L r 2ry �y 7.59 347.59 28.$$ ' "' , , 347.$$ L C6 Gi G: a= G M >- 28,5$ N Sep Now Jan Mar May Jul r- 0 2911 2911 2912 2912 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,) 2.0 54.0 .0 'U CU Q. 2.5 53.5 3.0 53.0 z 3.5 (U DO 52.5 (U L 4 y 4.0 m L CU (U 52.0 4J 4.5 L O as 51.5 CU 4J 5.0 m 4J CL C 0 Q 51.0 0 5.5 CL7 Jul Jul Jul Aug 14 21 28 04 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.O 55.0 Q- 2 ry 54 *O S 41 o% 3.0 #$ 52.0 41 5.0 51.0 �- 6.0 CU } �} r -W 7.0 49.0 rl L C6 p 8 +0 .... Gi 48.0 s N 9.0 o Sep Now Jan Mar May Jul 2911 2911 2912 2912 2912 2912 — 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