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Home My WebLink About20051457 Ver 1_USGS streamflow and ground-water conditions in NC through Monday January 30 2012.msg_20120131Strickland, Bev From: John C Weaver Dcweaver @usgs.gov] Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 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 30, 2012 NC Drought advisory group, Precipitation totals across North Carolina during the past week were once again limited for much of the state, further deepening the dryness pattern that has been observed in previous weeks. The precipitation totals maps (http:/ /water.weather.gov /precip/ or http : / /www.nc - climate.ncsu.edu /mpe departure) indicate the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions received less than 1 inch with widespread totals less than 0.5 inch. The only area receiving widespread 1+ inches again were the counties in the Hiwassee, Little Tennessee, and upper French Broad River basins. Streamflow conditions indicated on the current real -time streamflow map (http:Hwaterwatch.usgs.gov/ new / ?m= real &r =nc &w= real %2Cmap) continue to reflect the "haves and have nots" across the state with the boundary depicted at a line running from Mecklenburg County northeast through the Triad region. West of this line, streamflow conditions are depicted predominantly in the normal and above - normal ranges. Streamflow conditions east of this same line are predominantly in the below - normal ranges with a return expansion of streams in the "less than 10th percentile" range because of very little to no precipitation in this region during the past week. Inspection 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" conditions in the northeastern Piedmont and Coastal Plain. As of January 29 (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 little change in overall streamflows relative to 37 percent just a week ago. Water levels at the 10 Blue Ridge, Piedmont, and Sand Hills observations wells are depicted on the Climate Response Network in North Carolina (http: / /ogw01.er.usgs.gov /crn /StateMaps /NC.html) in the above normal range for 3 wells, normal range for 5 wells, and continued much below normal for Chapel Hill well in Orange County and the Marston well in Scotland County: • well at Chapel Hill in Orange County (http: // qroundwaterwatch .usgs.gov /AWLSites. asp ?S = 355522079043001 &ncd =crn), functionally "dry" since late October • well near Marston in Scotland County (http: // qroundwaterwatch .usgs.gov /AWLSites.asp ?S= 345812079313401 &ncd =crn) As noted last week, water levels at 2 of the 6 Coastal Plain wells continue to be depicted in the normal ranges. These two wells are located in Pitt and Washington Counties in the central Coastal Plain. Water levels are depicted in the below - normal range for the remaining 4 wells in the southern and northern Coastal Plain regions. Draft 1 for this week's release was available as of Monday afternoon with some D1 /D2 expansion in the Coastal Plain region. No changes were made to last week's release from the previous week. Concerning this week's release... The USDM author indicated minor expansions of the D1 and D2 in the Coastal Plain region. The D1 on draft 1 now covers all of the central and southern Coastal Plain as well as the Outer Banks. The D2 extends further north to cover all of Brunswick and New Hanover Counties. This adjustment appears to be reasonable in view of the recent rainfall patterns and corresponding changes in the hydrologic system. An area that may need some deterioration in drought category is the northeast Piedmont into the northern Coastal Plain. Inspection of the streamflow maps indicates widespread "less than 10th percentile" conditions from the Triad region (upper Cape Fear) east towards the Tar River basin. If no changes are made this week, the NC drought group may need to prepare for an adjustment in the next week or two if no substantial precipitation occurs in this region. The use of "status quo" in the western half of North Carolina continues to be appropriate. 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. Eric Luebehusen, meteorologist with the USDA World Agricultural Outlook Board in Washington, DC, is again the USDM author for this week's release. In the email accompanying the draft 1 release, he made the following specific comments concerning the Carolinas region: - Carolinas: Modest expansion of D1 -D3 from south - central SC northeastward toward the Outer Banks. Most of the short -term indices indicate worse - than - depicted Dx, but went conservative due to surpluses still apparent at 180 days in the eastern Carolinas. The 90d PNP and accompanying SPI paint a pretty ugly picture (D2 -D3) across southeastern VA, eastern NC, and the southeastern 3rd of SC. Felt a bit more inclined to increase Dx in SC per the 180d PNP, which now shows most of the state below normal. NLDAS Soil Moisture is even hitting the D4 range close to the coast, with the 3- and 6 -month SPI at D3. In NC, it's a sharp contrast between D1 -D4 in the short -term SPI and Moderately Moist in the 6m SPI. 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 State Climate Office of North Carolina at http: / /www.nc- climate.ncsu.edu /mpe departure/ Select Layers: Precipitation: Estimate Difference from normal Percent of normal Geographic: LJ County lines Cities Rivers and Streams HUC-6 HUC-8 Transportation: El Highways Internal users -lordin -- 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... Tuesday, January 31, 2012 08 :30ET Last week's conditions... Tuesday, January 24, 2012 08 :30ET WIM MUSIGS 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 31 morning) at some selected gaging stations (obtained from http : / /waterdata.usgs.gov /nc /nwis /current / ?type =flow ): Site number Explanation - Percentile classes .. ., 14k,", flow (% of) 1 Lo 1 � r -s0 > � - �: High Idol- ranked j N ch bedo s � w Be lbw P trr� al Ah,,we % asU) a, , mar€ -- normal 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 31 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 24 Current flow (% of) Median Jan 31 02053200 Potecasi Creek near Union (Hertford) -- 111 cfs 155 cfs 570 272 cfs 02106500 Black River near Tomahawk (Sampson) -- 593 cfs 420 cfs 390 1,080 cfs 02085500 Flat River at Bahama (Durham) -- 31 cfs 26 cfs 260 101 cfs 02096960 Haw River near Bynum (Chatham) -- 619 cfs 422 cfs 420 1,010 cfs 02115360 Yadkin River at Enon (Yadkin) -- 2,430 cfs 2,150 cfs 1000 2,150 cfs 02152100 First Broad River near Casar (Cleveland) -- 70 cfs 52 cfs 680 76 cfs 03451500 French Broad River at Asheville (Buncombe) -- 3,800 cfs 2,380 cfs 1200 1,990 cfs 03550000 Valley River at Tomotla (Cherokee) -- 791 cfs 337 cfs 1110 304 cfs 7 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, January 30, 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 30, 2012 As of January 29 (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 12 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 22 (Sunday), the current values indicate little change in overall streamflow conditions during course of the past week, considering 37% of sites across the state were below the 25th percentile and 19% 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 January 30 (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 10 Previous 7 days Monday, January 30, 2012 Previous 30 days Monday, January 30, 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 D ❑ 11 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 F1 L Lea o 0 �+ ❑ hlO ._h C- observer_sites �+ ❑ climate_div arc I ❑ Roads f+ 0 Streams and Lakes f ❑ city_ OOk polygon I ❑ quad 24V polygon ❑' HUGS *+ ❑ Basins: (65 sites selected for drought assessrr * ❑ Basins: > 30yrs total (89 sites as of Mar2006) �+ ❑►r county-100k polygon �+ ❑d outline_500k polygon + ❑ p•hys:io_500k po,lygo,n f ❑ Geology I ❑ slope_30m_int �+ ❑ landcover_30m + ❑ hydrogeoIogyAIVG_ ELL_Y f ❑ adjstate_100k polygon ❑► U5DIVI GIS layers 0 � . + ❑ usdm120112 f ❑ usdm120110 �+ ❑ usdm120103 �+ ❑ usdm111222 + ❑ usdm111220 E °n [ ? �+ i Display Source LSelection j I i 0 1 5 1111 1 Drawing ❑ril 1B B 1 U w _i • -- Ground Water -- 12 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. WES VIRGINIA �kaunto � �,�h�rlotte�v � :� "17 U�iarsaw ak a;F Lagan Oak C ,1- M `.�' �a,ppa anriook Atlantic I Bedtle a " SaIud4 4 harn White Mane Beach aWelc unia L' bUY a 60 C ig CaJgnral HLighfs € Eashille P asking �' oanokr ° y �' m grt Netir� �1 Virginia 4anyvaya rth" "f7 rtle Beach a Kingstree, Myrtle Beach 'a aGeorgetown nerviile t ! a rr t i c O e e a 7 Explanation - Percentile class �. ......ee __ New <10 1024 25-75 75-90 >90 New Not Bel' ..... — - ....... " Low hrluch Below Belaw Normal lave hrluGl l aved 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) 13 14 30.00 2117.00 CU Q. 31.00 z 2116.00 0 CU L (U 2115.50 32.00 CU 4J CL C 32.50 0 Jan Jan Jan Jan 07 14 21 28 2012 2012 2012 2012 ---- Provisional Data Subject to Revision ---- 14 (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) 15 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 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) 15 16 SGS 3540 x'0803 01 RO-149 (NC-193) PIEDMONT RS 1 NR BARBER (REGOLITI 7.25 670.75 4J 7.30 - 670.70 4J 7.35 - 670.65 z 7.40 - 670.60 (U (U L 7.45 - 670.55 m L 4J 7.50 670.50 L 7.55 670.45 m C CL 7 +69 679 +49 OL Jan Jan Jan Jan 07 14 21 28 2012 2012 2012 2012 ---- Provisional Data Subject to Revision ---- 16 (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 ^i 27 +89 � e« 4J 6.5 � 671 +5 27 +85 0 347 +15 -4 *' 7 +9 671 +9 G } L) 4. 7 +5 679 +5 z L a+ 27 +95 M i 8 +9 679 +9 r L28 +99 M �} L 8 +5 347 +99 669 +5 -I 4J C6 L Q 4� ° 9 +9 669 +9 +} s -J 28 +19 r H G 9.5 ° 668 +5 0 Mar May Jul Sep Now Jan CL7 28 +15 2911 2911 2911 2911 2911 2912 — Daily nean depth to water level Period of provisional data Period of approved data 346 +85 (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) 17 USES 3 544040 78403101 WK -284 LAK E' HEELER RS MW-3 S (RE G 0LITHWELL) ^i 27 +89 e« 347 +29 � � ^� 27 +85 0 347 +15 -4 *' 27 +99 347 +19 z a+ 27 +95 m 347 +95 L28 +99 M 347 +99 aLi 28 +95 *' 346 +95 28 +19 L ° 346 +99 t 28 +15 C6 346 +85 ° Jan Jan Jan Jan L 97 14 21 28 C7 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) 17 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 L 26,59 348.59 L O r 27.99 348.99 +4 ° � 27,59 347.5$ y L - - -m r-I 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 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) 18 19 USES 353219077153801 PI-532 (NC-160) NR IMP ON, NC (SURFICIAL,) 2.00 54.00 CU Q. 2.50 of 53.50 3.00 z 53.00 3.50 (U L m 52.50 L (U 4J 4.00 CU D 52.00 L CU 4.50 -p m C CL 51.50 O L 5.00 Jan Jan Jan Jan 07 14 21 28 2012 2012 2012 2012 ---- Provisional Data Subject to Revision ---- 19 20 USGS 353 19077153801 PI -532 (NC-160) NR SIMPSON, N URFI IAL) O 4ti 1.0 yy.O Q- 0 ry 2 +9 y4 *0 S 0% 3.9 #$ 52.O 41 +9 51.0 �- #09t9 } CU r -W 7.9 49.0 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 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) 20