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Home My WebLink About20051457 Ver 1_USGS streamflow and ground-water conditions in NC through Monday February 27 2012.msg_20120228Strickland, Bev From: John C Weaver Dcweaver @usgs.gov] Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 10:59 AM To: Linwood Peele; 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 @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; Yonts, Woody Subject: USGS streamflow and ground -water conditions in NC through Monday, February 27, 2012 NC Drought advisory group, Precipitation across North Carolina during the past week resulted in a pattern of "have and have nots" with most of the state in the latter category, as indicated by the precipitation totals maps for the state (http:/ /water.weather.gov /precip/ or http : / /www.nc - climate.ncsu.edu /mpe departure). Areas of 0.5+ inch rainfall occurred in parts of the northern mountains and Piedmont region as well parts of the southern and central Coastal Plain, in association with a storm system that moved across the state on Friday. The rest of the state received less than 0.5 inch with little to no rain in a narrow band adjacent to the state border in the southern mountains and Piedmont region. Examination of the current real -time streamflow map (http: / /waterwatch.usgs.gov/ new / ?m= real &r =nc &w= real %2Cmap) indicates fairly widespread below - normal conditions across much of the state, particularly across the southern tier. Streamflow conditions across the northern half of the state are generally in the below - normal range, with exception of the northern mountains and northwest Piedmont where flows are depicted in the normal ranges for some streamgages. Streamflow conditions in the 'less than 10th percentile" range are currently depicted at numerous streamgages from the southern mountains into southern Piedmont then across the eastern half of the state. Examination of the 28 -day average streamflow map (http: / /waterwatch.usgs.gov/ new /index.php ?m= pa28d &r =nc &w =map) indicates widespread "less than 10th percentile" and record low (for the calendar date) conditions for the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions. As of February 26 (Sunday), streamflow conditions indicate 61 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 improvements in overall streamflows relative to 81 percent just a week ago. Groundwater levels at the 10 Blue Ridge, Piedmont, and Sand Hills observations wells continue to be depicted on the Climate Response Network in North Carolina (http: / /ogw01.er.usgs.gov /crn /StateMaps /NC.html) in the normal range for 8 wells, continued much below normal (less than 10th percentile) at the Marston well in Scotland County, and record low for the month at the Chapel Hill well in Orange County (functionally dry since late October): • well near Marston in Scotland County (http: // qroundwaterwatch .usgs.gov /AWLSites.asp ?S= 345812079313401 &ncd =crn) • well at Chapel Hill in Orange County (http: // qroundwaterwatch .usgs.gov /AWLSites. asp ?S = 355522079043001 &ncd =crn), functionally "dry" since late October As noted last week, the water levels in 2 of the 6 Coastal Plain wells in Pitt and Washington Counties continue to be depicted in the normal ranges. The water levels at 3 of the 4 remaining wells are depicted in the below - normal range in Brunswick County, Jones County, and Pasquotank County. Water levels at the remaining well in Wayne County continue to be in the much below - normal range ( http : / /groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov /AWLSites. asp ?S = 351849078163901 &ncd =crn). Draft 1 for this week's release was available as of Monday afternoon with no changes yet indicated for North Carolina. No changes made to last week's release as "status quo" was applied statewide with overall conditions in a general holding pattern. Concerning this week's release... Last week's telecom included some discussions about introducing DO into the southern mountains if no substantial rainfall occurred. Precipitation across that region was very limited during the past week. Given that streamflow conditions in that region are within the below - normal ranges with an expanding presence of "less than 10th percentile" conditions, the introduction of DO across the southern mountains appears to be warranted. As we shift closer towards the start of the spring season, depictions in the eastern half of the state continue to be somewhat challenging as little to no substantial impacts have been reported in recent weeks. Given the occurrence of rainfall late last week, it may be appropriate to again apply "status quo" to the depictions in the eastern half of the state( ?). An area that many need closer monitoring for possible deterioration to D1 in drought depiction is the Broad and Catawba River basins. The 28 -day average streamflow conditions in the Broad River basin are depicted in the "less than 10th percentile" range at most all streamgages in that area. 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. Mark Svoboda, climatologist with the National Drought Mitigation Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, is again the USDM author for this week's release. In the email accompanying draft 1, he 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): 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/ - -- i � � .sit -_ �" i ■ - fi , tp ' 1111 "�, �` �fi .� �. �� h�io "" ►� t 11 r of i4 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 2/28/2012 1200 UTC— Created 2/28/12 13:55 UTC -- Streamflow -- 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, February 28, 2012 08 :30ET WIM MUSIGS Last week's conditions... Tuesday, February 21, 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 ......,. X10 Lew 1024 5 -7 76 -90 > � ............ - �: High Idol- ranked l M N ch beds ur - ---- ---- -� Be lbw al P trr� al Al y g % asc.l� aD0VV, mar €Y I r� rm l 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 (February 28 morning) at some selected gaging stations (obtained from http : / /waterdata.usgs.gov /nc /nwis /current / ?type =flow ): Site number Site name (and County) Flow Feb 21 Current flow (% of) Median Feb 28 02053200 Potecasi Creek near Union (Hertford) -- 320 cfs 180 cfs 55% 330 cfs 02106500 Black River near Tomahawk (Sampson) -- 523 cfs 546 cfs 49% 1,120 cfs 02085500 Flat River at Bahama (Durham) -- 145 cfs 51 cfs 380 134 cfs 02096960 Haw River near Bynum (Chatham) -- 1,200 cfs 708 cfs 63% 1,120 cfs 02115360 Yadkin River at Enon (Yadkin) -- 1,990 cfs 1,800 cfs 750 2,410 cfs 02152100 First Broad River near Casar (Cleveland) -- 41 cfs 47 cfs 51% 92 cfs 03451500 French Broad River at Asheville (Buncombe) -- 1,610 cfs 1,300 cfs 600 2,170 cfs 03550000 Valley River at Tomotla (Cherokee) -- 242 cfs 188 cfs 56% 336 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, February 27, 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, February 27, 2012 As of February 26 (Sunday), the graph of 7 -day flow percentiles shown below indicates 61 percent of sites across North Carolina have percentiles for 7 -day average flows falling below the 25th percentile for the calendar date. And 18 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 February 19 (Sunday), the current values indicate improvements in overall streamflow conditions during course of the past week, considering 81 % of sites across the state were below the 25th percentile and 54% 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 1 100 ONN A4, Less than 25th percentile Percentage of sites in North Carolina with 7 -dad? Less than 10th percentile indicated percentile range or love New min forthe clay 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 February 27 (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 °s I' Jr El 3 �{ Q Previous 7 days Monday, February 27, 2012 L EINI Explanation Unregulated Regulated No - No Drought ( >30 percentile) DO - Abnormally Dry (21 to 30 percentile) D ❑ D1 - Moderate Drought (11 to 20 percentile) D2 - Severe Drought (6 to 10 percentile) r s' D3 - Extreme Drought (3 to 5 percentile) D4 - Exceptional Drought (0 to 2 percentile) n/d - Not determined ❑ 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 61 (9 ' ` "r �� +'" YC j err �' _ � + � Ei Leers ❑►r Automated DM maps (short string) E] ❑1 (weekly change in 7 -day median percent F' ® gall othervalues? 10 to 25 percentile increase 25 to 50 percentile decrease Greaterthan 50 percentile decrease E Editor T € t ax { {Qr Create NevAi FeatLffe 13 �rrrrrrrrrr ,,,,,,,,e Display Source Selection J Drawing ❑ 'ril 1B B U A r _4 -- Ground Water -- 10 PAPE 5 to 10 percentile increase 0 to 5 percentile increase No percentile change g 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 T € t ax { {Qr Create NevAi FeatLffe 13 �rrrrrrrrrr ,,,,,,,,e Display Source Selection J Drawing ❑ 'ril 1B B U A r _4 -- Ground Water -- 10 PAPE 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. VES VIRGINIA �1lars ok taunt4 aim Logan ?Oak G�a'PpaYanriodtlantic into, I R Bedde �" Salud$ 4 thd'ir Framo ° White Mane Beach Welc Unio L' tIUY 60 o, Y ial Hdlgh tEastville P aski oanol fr grt Ms Virginia 4onyvay G rthlgydle Beach n Kingstree, Myrtle Beach 'c Georgetown nerviile t! a rr t i c O e e a a 7 Explanation - Percentile class �. ......ee __ New <10 1024 25-75 75-90 >90 New Not Bel' ..... — - 66`v.. " Low hrlach ''""' ""'Bel' 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 351808082374302 TR -065 HC -144) AT BLANTYRE, HC (RE OLITH C 28.66 2119.00 4J 0 F 28.50 2118,56 � 29.66 2118.66 a z 29.56 CU (U L 2117.56 m Q 36.66 aO DO CU 4J 2117.66 ° 36.56 CU L 2116.56 '0 C C G 31.66 O Feb Feb Feb Feb LO 04 11 18 25 2012 2012 2012 2012 - - -- 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 Q. .0 28.0 2119.9 4 4 2919 2118.9 S d Duo 39.9 2117.9 z Qz 31.9 211819 32.9 211519 �} 33.0 2114.9 L C6 Q cu G 34.0 211319 M J H C � a 35.0 L Mar May Jul Sep Now Jan 2911 2911 2911 2911 2911 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 SGS 3540 x'0803 01 Rte -149 NC -193) PIEDMONT RS 1 NR BARBER (RE OLIT m C 4J 7 +25 Thy Q 7 +39 670 +79 4 7 +35 679 +65 Lo 0 7 +49 679 +69 Qb Qy L m 'i 0 7 +45 679 +55 L Q Gi DO 7 +59 679 +5$ °} 'i � L O *' 7 +55 679 +45 GU m L � 7 +69 679 +49 C Feb Feb Feb Feb +o 94 11 18 25 2912 2912 2912 2912 - - -- Provisional Data Subject to Revision - - -- 0 Measured depth to water level — Depth to water level 14 (EASTERN PIEDMONT) Local number WK -284, NCDENR Lake Wheeler Research Station at Raleigh in Wake County (http: // groundwaterwatch .usgs.gov /AWLSites.asp ?S= 354404078403101 &ncd =rtn) SGS 354057080362601 Rte -149 (SIC -193) PIEDMONT RS 1 NR BARBER (RE OLIT a 672 +9 1 6 +0 0LITHWELL) 0 CU � 27 +85 4J 6.5 671 +5 347 +15 � ° 7 +9 671 +9 G 347 +19 } L) C 7 +5 679 +5 z L M -0 8 +9 L7 679 +9 r C] 347 +99 �} L 8 +5 669 +5 —4 4J C6 L Gi 4� ° 9 +9 346 +95 669 +9 +} s -J r H G 9.5 668 +5 0 Mar May Jul Sep Now Jan CL7 2911 2911 2911 2911 2911 2912 — Daily nean depth to water level Period of provisional data s 28 +15 Period of approved data (EASTERN PIEDMONT) 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 +85 e« 347 +15 � ° 27 +9$ 347 +19 347 +$5 L7 28 +99 C] 347 +99 28 +95 346 +95 L 28 +19 au DO -W 346 +99 rcu s 28 +15 L 0 346 +85 cu -W .0 28 +29 +o i 346 +8$ Q ° Feb Feb Feb Feb L 94 11 18 25 ca 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 4} GF N 25 +59 349 +59 y 26 +99 349 +99 } G] Z 26 +59 348 +59 27 +99 348 +99 +4 r ri ° � 27 59 + 347 +5$ y L � 28 +99 347 +99 L G: G a= M >- 28 +5$ N Mar May Jul Sep Now Jan r- 0 2911 2911 2911 2911 2911 2912 0 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,) C GU 2.80 Q. CU 53.40 3.00 53.20 z 3.20 (U L 53.00 m L CU (U 4J 3.40 D L O 52.80 CU 4J m 4J CL 3.60 C 52.60 L Feb Feb Feb Feb 04 11 18 25 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- 0 2.0 54 *O S o% 3.0 #$ 52.0 41 5.0 51.0 �- 6.0 CU } �} r - 7.0 49.0 rl L C6 p 8.O Gi P 48.$ s N 9.0 C o Mar Nay Jul Sep Now Jan 2911 2911 2911 2911 2911 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