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 January 16 2012.msg_20120117Strickland, Bev From: John C Weaver Dcweaver @usgs.gov] Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 11:17 AM To: Linwood Peele 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, January 16, 2012 NC Drought advisory group, Examination of precipitation totals map (http:/ /water.weather.gov /precip/ or http: / /www.nc- climate.ncsu.edu /mpe departure) indicates that much of North Carolina received 0.5+ inch rainfall during the past week. The only area indicated as receiving less than 0.5 inch precipitation is parts of the southern and eastern Piedmont as well as the Sand Hills region. Higher totals in the range of 1 to 2 inches occurred along the central Outer Banks and in the mountains region, particularly along the GA/SC state border in Jackson, Transylvania, and Henderson Counties. As noted last week, the streamflow conditions indicated on the current real -time streamflow map (http:Hwaterwatch.usgs.gov/ new / ?m= real &r =nc &w= real %2Cmap) continue to indicate areas across the state with differing streamflow patterns. Widespread streamflow conditions in the "less than 10th percentile" range with several sites at the 1 st percentile (record low for the calendar date) continue to be visible on the map for the eastern half of the state. In the western half of the state, conditions are generally in the normal ranges for streams in the mountains region with a transition to mixed conditions (normal and below - normal) in the central Piedmont. As of January 15 (Sunday), streamflow conditions indicate 34 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 61 percent just a week ago. Groundwater levels noted this morning continue to be consistent with the patterns noted in previous weeks; that is, water levels in the normal ranges in western half of the state with below - normal water levels in the eastern half. Water levels at the 10 Blue Ridge, Piedmont, and Sand Hills observations wells depicted on the Climate Response Network in North Carolina (http: / /ogw01.er.usgs.gov /crn /StateMaps /NC.html) indicate water levels in the above normal range for 1 wells, normal range for 7 wells, and much below normal for 2 wells: • 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 Similar to last week, water levels at the 6 Coastal Plain wells are in the below - normal range for 5 wells and much below - normal for the 1 well near Simpson in Pitt County (http: // qroundwaterwatch .usgs.gov /AWLSites.asp ?S= 353219077153801 &ncd =crn). While rainfall during the past week resulted in varying degrees of increased water levels, the levels at these wells remained in the below - normal ranges. Draft 1 for this week's release was not available as of Tuesday morning (partly due to shorter week because of holiday on Monday), Changes to last week's map include DO expansions across the central Piedmont and northern Coastal Plain. Concerning this week's release... Some discussion occurred last week about introducing an area of D2 drought depiction across parts of the southern and central( ?) Coastal Plain. However, a decision was made to hold on this change pending a forecasted storm event. The precipitation maps ( http : / /water.weather.gov /precip /) indicate that about 1 inch rainfall was widespread across a large part of the Coastal Plain with higher totals along the central Outer Banks. Groundwater levels increased in response to the rainfall, but the magnitude of increases were not sufficient to change the depictions shown on the Climate Response Network ( http:// groundwaterwatch. usgs. qov/ StatemapsNet.asp ?ncd= crn &sc =37) for the state. One of the challenges with deciding on depictions in the drought categories is the lack of impacts during the winter period that have a direct impact on the water -use needs (for example, agricultural or water supply). However, the hydrologic conditions in the eastern half have reached a point in the past few weeks where deterioration in the drought categories may be justified. Barring any re- evaluation of possible D2 in the southern and central Coastal Plain, would suggest "status quo" elsewhere for this week's release. 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 1 for this week's version was not available. Laura Edwards, climate field specialist in Aberdeen, South Dakota, is again the USDM author for this week's release. This is also her last rotation serving as a USDM author. She has made no specific comments concerning the Carolinas region in her email transmissions 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 111712012 1200 UTC— Created 1117112 13:54 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: 3 htto:Hwaterwatch. usas.aov/ classic / ?m= real &r =nc &w= real %2Cma Current conditions... Tuesday, January 17, 2012 10 :30ET Last week's conditions... Tuesday, January 10, 2012 09 :30ET WIM MUSGS 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 (January 17 morning) at some selected gaging stations (obtained from http : / /waterdata.usgs.gov /nc /nwis /current / ?type =flow ): Site number Explanation - Percentile classes Flow Jan 10 , flow (% of) Low X10 10-2-4--'j 7 6 -90 >0 � ...... � ............ - Hi I�ol- ranked jr N m ed ur - ---- ---- -- ebw P trnal A,,we %asU)a, , _ mar €Y,,aI 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 (January 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 Jan 10 Current flow (% of) Median Jan 17 02053200 Potecasi Creek near Union (Hertford) -- 48 cfs 102 cfs 47% 217 cfs 02106500 Black River near Tomahawk (Sampson) -- 201 cfs 295 cfs 340 858 cfs 02085500 Flat River at Bahama (Durham) -- 24 cfs 26 cfs 300 88 cfs 02096960 Haw River near Bynum (Chatham) -- 379 cfs 549 cfs 710 772 cfs 02115360 Yadkin River at Enon (Yadkin) -- 1,810 cfs 2,580 cfs 1330 1,940 cfs 02152100 First Broad River near Casar (Cleveland) -- 41 cfs 52 cfs 790 66 cfs 03451500 French Broad River at Asheville (Buncombe) -- 1,610 cfs 2,030 cfs 111% 1,830 cfs 03550000 Valley River at Tomotla (Cherokee) -- 239 cfs 239 cfs 910 264 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: 5 Monday, January 16, 2012 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, January 16, 2012 As of January 15 (Sunday), the graph of 7 -day flow percentiles shown below indicates 34 percent of sites across North Carolina have percentiles for 7 -day average flows falling below the 25th percentile for the calendar date. And 13 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 January 08 (Sunday), the current values indicate improvements in overall streamflow conditions during course of the past week, considering 61 % of sites across the state were below the 25th percentile and 30% 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 il 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 ONN AN 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 January 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 Previous 7 days Monday, January 1, 2012 Previous 30 days Monday, January 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 IM 0 ❑ s 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 Leers ❑] Automated DM maps (short string) El R1 ME MISIXIM, ® gall othervalues? 10 to 25 percentile increase 25 to 50 percentile decrease Greaterthan 50 percentile decrease E U °n [ ? �+ i Display Gaurce !Selection j Drawing „> } ❑ vial 1 B �€ U — ' _i 0 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 U °n [ ? �+ i Display Gaurce !Selection j Drawing „> } ❑ vial 1 B �€ U — ' _i 0 -- Ground Water -- 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. ok WES VIRGINIA �taunt� Churl env' � ��i 17 , tiJl7arsaw DLO an . �, Oak G� U �I R G, � 1 $Ta'PPa�'a o& Atlantic ° I nt. '� Bedde ,Saluda ° �,, tdcrn hsm �. ¢White $tone Beach �Welc Unio L' bar b k 60 ,� ° fg , iaL Fteigh s (E,astville P a*i can f� Out Ne Virginia 4onyvay rth" "f7 rtle Beach Kingstree, Myrtle Beach 'c Georgetown nerviile t! a rr t i c O e e a a 7 Explanation - Percentile class �. ......ee __ New <10 1024 25-75 75-90 >90 New Not Bel' ..... — - ....... " Low hrluch Below Below Nonnal love hrluGl l oved High Ranked Shown below are the hydrographs at four selected wells across North Carolina... real -time page for USGS ground water data in NC is available at http: / /waterdata.usgs.gov /nc /nwis /current ?tvpe =qw (MOUNTAINS) NC -144 at Blantyre in Transylvania County (http: / /waterdata.usgs.gov /nc /nwis /dv / ?site no= 351808082374302 &agency cd =USGS &referred module =sw) 10 11 USES 351 080823 '430 TR-065 (NC-144) AT BLANTYRE, NC (REGOLITH) 30.00 - 2117.00 41 CU Q. 30.50 - 2116.50 31.00 4J 2116.00 0 z 31.50 2115.50 0 5 (U L 32.00 m L 2115.0 0 cu (U -p D 0 32.50 2114.50 L CU m 33.00 21 3 CL 1 .14.00 33.50 L 0 Dec Dec Jan Jan 24 31 07 14 2011 2011 2012 2012 ---- Provisional Data Subject to Revision ---- 11 (WESTERN PIEDMONT) NC -193, Piedmont RS near Barber in Rowan County (http: / /waterdata .usgs.gov /nc /nwis /dv / ?dd cd =01 72019 00003 &format =imq default &site no= 354057080362601 &set to qscale v =0 &begin date = 20070319) 12 USES 351 0808237430 TR -065 (SIC -144) AT BLANTYRE, HC (RE OLITH a 2129.9 m 27.E Q. .0 28 +9 2119.9 4 29 +9 2118.9 Duo 39.9 2117.9 z 31 +9 2118.9 4J M 04 to 32.9 2115.9 } cu �} 4 33 +$ 2114.9 L Q cu Q 34 +$ 2113.9 M J C CE 35 +6 L Mar May Jul Sep Nov 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) 12 13 SGS 3540 x'0803 01 RO-149 (NC-193) PIEDMONT RS 1 NR BARBER (REGOLITI 6.88 671.20 a 4J CU CU Q. 7.00 671.80 4J 7.20 670.80 0 z (U L 7.40 670.60 m L 7.60 670.40 L O CU 4J m 4J CL 7.80 670.20 C 0 O L Dec Dec Jan Jan 24 31 07 14 2011 2011 2012 2012 ---- Provisional Data Subject to Revision ---- 13 (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 3 544040 78403101 WK -284 LAK E' HEELER RS MW-3 S (RE G 672 +9 1 6 +0 347 +39 0 � CU � 27,75 4J 6.5 671 +5 347 +25 Q27 +89 0! 7 +9 671 +9 G 27 +85 } L) C 7 +5 U 679 +5 z L 347 +15 z 27 +99 if If if I > M -0 8 +9 679 +9 r 27 +95 +4 �} L 8 +5 L aJ 669 +5 4J C6 m L Gi 4� ° 9 +9 347 +99 669 +9 +} s -J r H G 9.5 2221 668 +5 � Mar May Jul Sep Now Jan 28 +19 CL7 2911 2911 2911 2911 2911 2912 — Daily nean depth to water level Period of provisional data 346 +99 Period of approved data ° Dec Dec Jan Jan (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) 14 USES 3 544040 78403101 WK -284 LAK E' HEELER RS MW-3 S (RE G 0LITHWELL) 347 +39 a+ � 27,75 347 +25 Q27 +89 0! 347 +29 27 +85 a Lo U 347 +15 z 27 +99 if If if I > 347 +19 0 27 +95 +4 347 +95 CU L aJ 28 +99 m 347 +99 �1 28 +95 m *' 346 +95 28 +19 346 +99 ° Dec Dec Jan Jan L 24 31 97 14 ca 2911 2911 2912 2912 - - -- Provisional Data Subject to Revision - - -- - Depth to water level — Lowest recorded water level prior to MY2911 (27 +89 ft Dec 12, 2998) 14 s 0 USGS 354404978493101 WK -284 LAKE WHEELER RS MW -3S (REGOLITH WELL) a� 25.60 25.50 t F-1 > L 26.00 Gb M r-I � L = 26.50 4 x 27.00 O ,N a= 27.50 41 G 28.00 J N S G Mar May Jul Sep Nov Jan 2911 2911 2911 2911 2911 2912 350.00 349.50 349.00 348.50 348.00 347.50 — 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 MY2011 (27.89 ft Dec 12, 2008) a� a� S rl G } 0 Z 0 } O �A r-I Gb } 4} r-I L 0 a= S c 7 O L ca (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) 15 USES 353 19077153801 PI -532 (NC-160) NR SIMPSON, N URFI I L.) m C 3.69 s 0 Q 3.89 a� U 4.99 0 c� 4.29 Qy L ri C N GL] 4.49 4.6$ O -W 4.89 C. 4� CS Dec Dec Jan Jan 24 31 97 14 2911 2911 2912 2912 - - -- Provisional Data Subject to Revision - - -- Measured depth to water level — Depth to water level 16 m 4ti 52.6$ sw rn 52.49 0 ca 52.29 0 52.99 m -4 CU } 51.89 U L CU 51.69 i C 51.49 L ca 17 USGS 353 19077153801 PI -532 (NC-160) NR SIMPSON, N URFI IAL) O 4ti 1.0 55.9 Q- 0 ry 2 +9 y4 *0 S 0% 3.9 #$ 52.9 #$ 51.9 #09t9 } CU �} r - 7.0 .0 rl L C6 p 8.0 Gi P 48.0 s N 9.0 C o Mar Nay Jul Sep Now Jan 2911 2911 2011 2911 2011 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) 17