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Home My WebLink About20051457 Ver 1_USGS streamflow and ground-water conditions in NC through Monday August 15.msg_20110816Strickland, Bev From: John C Weaver Dcweaver @usgs.gov] Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2011 11:15 AM To: woody.yonts @ncdenr.gov 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 @ncdenr.gov; 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; rwall @ncem.org; 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 Subject: USGS streamflow and ground -water conditions in NC through Monday, August 15 NC Drought advisory group, Rainfall across North Carolina this past week resulted in fairly widespread coverage of 0.5+ inch totals with some areas in the Piedmont and western Coastal Plain receiving 2+ inches (http:/ /water.weather.gov /precip /). Daytime temperatures have also moderated somewhat from the excessive levels that were observed during late July and early August. Streamflow conditions noted on the current real -time maps (http:Hwaterwatch.usgs.gov/ new / ?m= real &r =nc &w= real %2Cmap) indicate a mix of conditions across the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions in response to the recent rainfalls. The most widespread areas of streamflow conditions in the "less than 10th percentile" is from the Triad region east towards the upper Tar River basin as well as the extreme southwest area of the state in the Little Tennessee and Hiwassee River basins. As of August 14 (Sunday), streamflow conditions indicate 67 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 some deterioration in overall streamflow relative to 61 percent just a week ago. However, changes in streamflow during the past week appear to be mixed as the percentage of sites having percentiles for 7 -day average flows falling below the 10th percentile decreased by 4 percent. Water levels at the 10 Blue Ridge, Piedmont, and Sand Hills observations wells are depicted in the Climate Response Network (http://ogwOl.er.usgs.gov/crn/StateMaps/NC.html) as being in the normal range for 7 wells, below normal for 1 well in Rowan County, and much below normal for 2 wells at Chapel Hill in Orange County (http: // qroundwaterwatch .usgs.gov /AWLSites.asp ?S= 355522079043001 &ncd =crn) and near Marston in Scotland County (http: // qroundwaterwatch .usgs.gov /AWLSites.asp ?S= 345812079313401 &ncd =crn). Water levels for the 6 wells in the Coastal Plain are depicted in the normal range for 1 well at Southport in Brunswick County (http: // qroundwaterwatch .usgs.gov /AWLSites. asp ?S = 335631078003606 &ncd =crn), below normal for 2 wells in Wayne and Pitt Counties, and record low for the month of August at 3 wells: Comfort in Jones County (http: // qroundwaterwatch .usgs.gov /AWLSites.asp ?S= 345809077301408 &ncd =crn) Hoke in Washington County (http: // qroundwaterwatch .usgs.gov /AWLSites.asp ?S= 354418076463601 &ncd =crn) Elizabeth City in Pasquotank County (http: // qroundwaterwatch .usgs.gov /AWLSites.asp ?S= 361829076163201 &ncd =crn) Draft 1 for this week's release was available as of Monday afternoon with no changes yet indicated for North Carolina. Changes made for last week's USDM release included the addition of DO across parts of the mountains and Piedmont regions. Moderate drought (D1) was also expanded across the Triad region and removed across parts of the upper Neuse and Tar basins. Some possible changes to this week's release may include: (1) Per input from Pat Tanner (NWS Greenville - Spartanburg) ... possible expansion of the D- nothing area in central NC across parts of Gaston and Lincoln Counties in response to the 7 -day rainfalls and little change in river levels. (2) Reduction or removal of D2 /D3 regions in the Coastal Plain based on rainfall totals during the past 30 days? But leave D1 in place due to groundwater conditions. (3) Improvement in drought depictions on the east side of the D- nothing area across southern Piedmont? (4) Use "status quo" for remainder of state, including central / northern mountains and Triad region where DO and D1, respectively, were expanded last week. As noted last week, while some areas are getting fairly decent rainfall totals, there are still other areas where rainfalls totals have been less. For those areas where high rainfall totals are considered decent, much of the rainfall seems to have fallen quickly in a short amount of time. 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. Laura Edwards, Assistant Research Climatologist with the Desert Research Institute in Reno, Nevada, is again the USDM author for this week's release. In the email accompanying draft 1, she made no specific comments concerning the 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): htto:H drouaht.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 8/15/2011 1200 UTC— Created 8/15/11 23:50 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, August 16, 2011 09 :30ET WIM MUSIGS Last week's conditions... Tuesday, August 09, 2011 07 :30ET 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 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 16 morning) at some selected gaging stations (obtained from http : / /waterdata.usgs.gov /nc /nwis /current / ?type =flow ): Site number Site name (and County) Flow Aug 09 Current flow (% of) Median Aug 16 02053200 Potecasi Creek near Union (Hertford) -- 5.3 cfs 2.0 cfs 150 13 cfs 02106500 Black River near Tomahawk (Sampson) -- 231 cfs 73 cfs 27% 275 cfs 02085500 Flat River at Bahama (Durham) -- 1.5 cfs 1.5 cfs 100 15 cfs 02096960 Haw River near Bynum (Chatham) -- 126 cfs 214 cfs 890 240 cfs 02115360 Yadkin River at Enon (Yadkin) -- 875 cfs 1,000 cfs 156% 1,560 cfs 02152100 First Broad River near Casar (Cleveland) -- 21 cfs 22 cfs 42% 52 cfs 03451500 French Broad River at Asheville (Buncombe) -- 881 cfs 759 cfs 660 1,150 cfs 03550000 Valley River at Tomotla (Cherokee) -- 73 cfs 46 cfs 450 103 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 15, 2011 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 15, 2011 As of August 14 (Sunday), the graph of 7 -day flow percentiles shown below indicates 67 percent of sites across North Carolina have percentiles for 7 -day average flows falling below the 25th percentile for the calendar date. And 21 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 August 07 (Sunday), the current values indicate mixed changes in overall streamflow conditions during course of the past week, considering 61 % of sites across the state were below the 25th percentile and 25% of sites were below 10th percentile and /or reaching new minimum for the calendar date. While the percentage of sites with below - normal (< 25th percentile) conditions increased, the percentage of sites with well below - normal (< 10th percentile) conditions decreased during the same period. 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 i i ii Less than 25th percentile Percentage of sites in North Carolina with 7 -day t Less than 10th percentile indicated percentile range or lowe New min forthe day August, September October ilovember December t 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2011 2011 2011 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 15 (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 Q5 F] Previous 7 days Monday, August 15, 2011 0 --#�C 0 '.. or r� � t t s t i} Explanation Unregulated Regulated No - No Drought ( >30 percentile) DO - Abnormally Dry (21 to 30 percentile) 0 ❑ D1 - Moderate Drought (11 to 20 percentile) D2 - Severe Drought (6 to 10 percentile) D3 - Extreme Drought (3 to 5 percentile) IF D4 - Exceptional Drought (0 to 2 percentile) a IM n/d - Not determined 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 --- ____ ____ _____mmmm________ 23 61 & 10 rc r + 1:3,540,016 ............................................................................................................................................. ..............................' x Layers -1 ❑ Automated DM maps (short string) ® <all other values> WeeHy_c_i nid Greater than 50 percentile increase 25 to 50 percentile increase ? ;tj ,> + xv O a Editor P�1111-11111111- I Display Source Selection; I'll �r a El —1 Anal [1___ B l U + -- Ground Water -- Please visit the Climate Response Network page at http: / /groundwaterwatch. usqs. gov /StateMapsNet.asp ?ncd= crn &sc =37 (map shown below) for more information on 10 10 to 25 percentile increase 5 to 10 percentile increase 0 to 5 percentile increase 0 No percentile change 0 to 5 percentile decrease 5 to 10 percentile decrease 10 to 25 percentile decrease 25 to 50 percentile decrease Greater than 50 percentile decrease ? ;tj ,> + xv O a Editor P�1111-11111111- I Display Source Selection; I'll �r a El —1 Anal [1___ B l U + -- Ground Water -- Please visit the Climate Response Network page at http: / /groundwaterwatch. usqs. gov /StateMapsNet.asp ?ncd= crn &sc =37 (map shown below) for more information on 10 ground -water conditions at selected USGS observation wells in North Carolina. ok WES VIRGINIA �1,aunto � � �rlotte�v ��= f 17 tiJl7arsauu L ogan Oak 3i , R I Ta`annocl� Atlantic L I' . ppa into Bedtle � ' �'�,$alud'g 4 ham ° White Mane Beach Welo Unio L' ki�JY 60 ;d, G o, o l ca��nial Hligh R tEastville `P askin onok �grt Nu Virginia 7 Explanation - Percentile class �. ......ee __ New <10 1024 25-75 75-90 >90 New Not Bel' ..... — - ....... " Low hrluch Below Bel¢w Normal love hrluGl l cve� High Ranked Shown below are the hydrographs at four selected wells across North Carolina... real -time page for USGS ground water data in NC is available at http: / /waterdata.usgs.gov /nc /nwis /current ?tvpe =qw (MOUNTAINS) NC -144 at Blantyre in Transylvania County (http: / /waterdata.usgs.gov /nc /nwis /dv / ?site no= 351808082374302 &agency cd =USGS &referred module =sw) 11 12 USES 351 080823 '430 TR-065 (NC-144) AT BLANTYRE, NC (REGOLITH) 29.00 2118.00 CU Q. 29.50 2117.50 4J 30.00 z 2117.00 0 (U (U L ,-I = m 30.50 CU L (U 2116.50 4J L 31.00 CU 4J m 2116.00 4J CL C L 31.50 Jul Jul Aug Aug 23 30 06 13 2011 2011 2011 2011 ---- Provisional Data Subject to Revision ---- 12 (WESTERN PIEDMONT) NC -193, Piedmont RS near Barber in Rowan County (http: / /waterdata .usgs.gov /nc /nwis /dv / ?dd cd =01 72019 00003 &format =imq default &site no= 354057080362601 &set to qscale v =0 &begin date = 20070319) 13 USES 351 0808237430 TR -065 (SIC -144) AT BLANTYRE, HC (RE OLITH a 27.E 2129.9 m Q. a, 28.9 2119.9 0 29 +0 2118.9 0 z Do ' c 39.9 2117.9 t > M r 31.9 2116.9 r °� 0 32 +$ 2115.9 4 4J C6 L Gi Q p 33.9 2114.9 +} M >- J r H G 34 +0 � L Sep Now Jan Mar May Jul 2919 2919 2911 2911 2911 2911 — 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 SGS 354057080362601 RO-149 (NC-193) PIEDMONT RS 1 NR BARBER (REGOLITI 8.08 670.00 a 4J CU CU Q. 8.20 669.80 C 8.60 669.40 0 L CU 4J 669.20 0 4J 9.00 669.00 CU 4J CL C 9.20 668.80 0 Jul Jul Aug flug 23 30 06 13 2011 2011 2011 2011 ---- Provisional Data Subject to Revision ---- 14 (EASTERN PIEDMONT) NC -126 at Chapel Hill in Orange County ( http:/ /waterdata.usgs.gov /nc /nwis /dv/ ?site no= 355522079043001 &agency cd =USGS &referred module =sw) SGS 354057080362601 Rte -149 (SIC -193) PIEDMONT RS 1 NR BARBER (RE OLIT a 672.0 1 6.0 OR -069 (NC-126) AT CHAPEL 0 (RE t LITH) 45,20 CU 466.30 c CU 4J 6.5 671.5 m s 45.30 466.20 y 7.0 671.0 Do L) z +' 45.40 Q0 7.5 670.5 z 45.50 466.00 40 -1 8.0 670.0 m L L 45.60 +. 465.90 GU A L C6 Gi p 8.5 669.5 m L O 45.70 J 465.80 r H � a 9.0 � C 669.0 OL Sep Now Jan Mar May Jul 2010 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 45.80 — Daily nean depth to water level Period of provisional data Period of approved data L L 0 (EASTERN PIEDMONT) NC -126 at Chapel Hill in Orange County ( http:/ /waterdata.usgs.gov /nc /nwis /dv/ ?site no= 355522079043001 &agency cd =USGS &referred module =sw) 15 USGS 355522079 143001 OR -069 (NC-126) AT CHAPEL HILL, H (RE t LITH) 45,20 466.30 c CU s 45.30 466.20 +' 45.40 466.10 z 45.50 466.00 m L 45.60 465.90 GU A r0 L O 45.70 465.80 Gi s L C � C CL G] d 45.80 465.70 L L 0 Jul Jul Aug Aug 23 30 06 13 2011 2011 2011 2011 - - -- Provisional Data Subject to Revision - - -- 15 (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 USGS 3555 079043001 OR -069 (NC -126) AT CHAPEL HILL, H (RE t LITH) a 41.0 m 470.0 S Q 4.2.E .... 0 469.0 m y 43.9 .... z -4 C4. 468.9 0 s or 44,8 2 cu } 467.8 -W 4 L cu G +$ P 466.$ H M CE 46.0 L Sep Nov Jan Mar May Jul 2010 2019 2911 2011 2911 2011 — Daily nean depth to water level Period of provisional data Period of approved data (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,) 7.40 48.80 .0 CU CU Q. 7.60 of 48.60 7.80 48.40 z Q.- 8 00 . .0 L 48.20 m Vi L r-I CU (U -p 8.20 D 48-00 L O 8.40 CU -p m CL 47.80 r- 8.60 L 0 Jul Jul Aug Aug 23 30 06 13 2011 2011 2011 2011 ---- Provisional Data Subject to Revision ---- 17 18 USGS 353 19077153801 PI -532 (NC-160) NR SIMPSON, N URFI IAL) O 4ti 1 +$ 5555 +9 Q- 2.0 54 +0 41 0% 3 +0 +$ 52 +0 41 0 55 +0 51 0 +} +$ i a 6 +0 CU 2 50 +0 }y 7 m +9 49 +0 L C6 G Gi +� +0 m 9.0 H o Sep Now Jan Mar May Jul C 2910 2910 2911 2011 2911 2911 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