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Home My WebLink About20051457 Ver 1_USGS streamflow and ground-water conditions in NC through Monday June 18 2012.msg_20120619Strickland, Bev From: John C Weaver Dcweaver @usgs.gov] Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 11:45 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, June 18, 2012 NC Drought advisory group, Precipitation maps for North Carolina (http: / /water.weather.gov /precip/ or http : / /www.nc - climate.ncsu.edu /mpe departure) indicate a "hit -n- miss" pattern across the state during the past week. Areas receiving widespread 0.5+ inch are noted for parts of central Piedmont in the Yadkin River basin as well as portions of the southern mountains and southern Coastal Plain regions. Precipitation totals elsewhere ranged from no rain to less than 0.5 inch. Streamflows on the current real -time streamflow map (http:Hwaterwatch.usgs.gov/ new / ?m= real &r =nc &w= real %2Cmap) indicate two distinct sets of conditions in three different areas across North Carolina. In the mountains, northwest Piedmont, and eastern Coastal Plain regions, streamflows are depicted as a mix of normal and below - normal conditions. However, from the southwest Piedmont towards the Sand Hills and western Coastal Plain regions, widespread below - normal and "less than 10th percentile" conditions are in effect across this part of the state. Examination of the 28 -day average flows (http: / /waterwatch. usgs .gov /index.php ?m= pa28d &r =nc &w =map) indicates the most widespread area of below - normal flows to be in the Sand Hills, eastern Piedmont, and much of the western Coastal Plain. As of June 17 (Sunday), streamflow conditions indicate 25 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 improvements in overall streamflows relative to 37 percent just a week ago. Groundwater 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) continue to be depicted in the normal range for 5 wells, below normal for 3 wells, and continued record low for the calendar month at the Chapel Hill well in Orange County and Marston well in Scotland County. Water levels in the Coastal Plain also continue to reflect effects of the recent rainfalls. With exception of the below - normal conditions depicted for the Southport well in Brunswick County (http: / /groundwaterwatch .usgs.gov /AWLSites. asp ?S = 335631078003606 &ncd =crn), the water levels for the Coastal Plain wells are depicted in the normal ranges. Minor improvements from DO to D- nothing were made along the western extent of the DO depiction for last week's USDM depiction for North Carolina, affecting parts of the central Piedmont region. In consideration of (1) the relatively small extent of DO currently depicted for central North Carolina as well as (2) the hydrologic and precipitation patterns across the state, the NC group should probably consider the following: (1) The 30 -day percent of normal precipitation (PNP, http: / /water.weather.gov /precip /) indicates two areas of concern: (a) southern and central mountains, particularly in the upper French Broad and Broad River basins where PNP values are as low as 10 to 50 percent, and (b) eastern Piedmont where PNP values are down to 25 to 75 percent in some areas. (2) Streamflow conditions (http: / /waterwatch.usgs.gov / ?m= real &r =nc &w= real %2Cmap) are depicted in the below - normal and "less than 10th percentile" ranges from the southwest Piedmont to the Sand Hills and northwest Coastal Plain. The group may perhaps consider expanding the current DO to include parts of these areas. If not this week, the NC group should prepare for this possibility of expansion in the next week if no substantial rainfall materializes across the region. Would hold "status quo" for the remainder of the state. 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 3 for this week's version was available with no changes yet indicated for North Carolina. Richard Heim, climatologist with the NOAA National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, North Carolina, is the USDM author for this week's release. �r REIM }Ii-'tlli- �hi(O;F� t V z£ Cg § e I (3 � A 3 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 /precip/ Image 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 6/19/2012 1200 UTC— Created 6/19/12 13:55 UTC -- Streamflow -- Focusing on current streamflow conditions... 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... 4 Tuesday, June 19, 2012 08 :30ET Last week's conditions... Monday, June 11, 2012 22 :30ET i 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 (June 19 morning) at some selected gaging stations (obtained from http : / /waterdata.usgs.gov /nc /nwis /current / ?type =flow ): Site number Site name (and County) Flow Jun 04 Current flow (% of) Median Jun 19 02053200 Potecasi Creek near Union (Hertford) -- 1,340 cfs 37 cfs 1610 23 cfs 02106500 Black River near Tomahawk (Sampson) -- 1,340 cfs 166 cfs 610 273 cfs 02085500 Flat River at Bahama (Durham) -- 34 cfs 11 cfs 37% 30 cfs 02096960 Haw River near Bynum (Chatham) -- 314 cfs 159 cfs 40% 394 cfs 02115360 Yadkin River at Enon (Yadkin) -- 1,770 cfs 1,410 cfs 660 2,130 cfs 02152100 First Broad River near Casar (Cleveland) -- 34 cfs 29 cfs 47% 62 cfs 03451500 French Broad River at Asheville (Buncombe) -- 1,130 cfs 963 cfs 61% 1,590 cfs 03550000 Valley River at Tomotla (Cherokee) -- 170 cfs 95 cfs 64% 149 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, June 18, 2012 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, June 18, 2012 As of June 17 (Sunday), the graph of 7 -day flow percentiles shown below indicates 25 percent of sites across North Carolina have percentiles for 7 -day average flows falling below the 25th percentile for the calendar date. And 6 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 June 10 (Sunday), the current values indicate some improvements in overall streamflow conditions during course of the past week, considering 37% of sites across the state were below the 25th percentile and 3% 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 IN 4N IN 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 June 18 (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, June 1, 2012 Previous 30 days Monday, June 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 D ❑ 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 Go 61 (9 1 b751 9 V + r x r "° & 1' , yl , , i 11�� nr �_ ❑'moo❑ T € { w�{{t r ° s ° Editor _rr m.at_ i]_ �f F ? tw Ei Leers ❑Q Automated DM reaps (short string) _ El ❑ ® gall othervalues? rn ID 10 to 25 percentile increase 25 to 50 percentile decrease 61 Greater than 50 percentile decrease Z <- Emi Q � Source Selectlon ��1h1111111111AAAAAAENEE1 VIII tip Display Drawing >,} ❑ n l . l�t` . $ tJ [ A T T _4 T -- Ground Water -- 10 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 61 Greater than 50 percentile decrease Z <- Emi Q � Source Selectlon ��1h1111111111AAAAAAENEE1 VIII tip Display Drawing >,} ❑ n l . l�t` . $ tJ [ A T T _4 T -- 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 351808082374302 TR -065 HC -144) AT BLANTYRE, HC (RE OLITH 27 +99 2129 +99 0 27 +5$ y GF 2119 +59 4 �} } LO z 2119 +99 �F Qy L 'i o 28 +59 +4 F-I 2118 +5$ 11 GL] +. GU i 29 +99 CU +} 2118 +$$ L 4 � C G 29 +5$ C L May Jun Jun Jun ca 26 92 99 16 2912 2912 2912 2912 - - -- 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.E 2129.9 m Q. .0 28 +9 2119.9 29 +9 2118.9 � d Duo 39.9 2117.9 z 31.9 2118.9 4J M 32.9 211519 } cu �} 33 +$ 2114.9 L C6 Q cu G 34 +$ 211319 M J H C � CE 35 +6 L Jul Sep Now Jan Mar May 2911 2911 2911 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 USGS 354057080362601 RO-149 (NC-193) PIEDMONT RS 1 NR BARBER (REGOLITH) 6.88 671.20 a 4J CU CU Q. 7.00 671.00 7.40 670.60 L 7.60 670.40 CU 0 7.80 670.20 CU C CL 8.00 670.00 0 Hag Jun Jun Jun 26 02 09 16 2012 2012 2012 2012 ---- Provisional Data Subject to Revision ---- 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) USES 3 544040 78403101 WK -284 LAK E' HEELER RS MW-3 S (RE G 672 +9 1 6 +9 0 .0 CU 348 +95 'U � 6.5 U 671 +5 27 +99 4J 348 +99 7 +9 671 +9 G 347 +95 } L) 27 +19 z ' C 7 +5 L7 Z 679 +5 L 347 +99 4 27 +15 M -0 8 +9 (U y 679 +9 C 347 +85 Q 27 +29 (} �} L 8 +5 669 +5 +. 347 +89 L C6 Gi Q 27 +25 +} ° 9 +9 669 +9 s 347 +75 s L CL J r H c � a 9 +5 0 L 668 +5 L Jul Sep Now Jan Mar May C7 2911 2911 2911 2912 2912 2912 Hay Jun Jun Jun — Daily nean depth to water level Period of provisional data Period of approved data 26 92 99 16 (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) 26 +95 .0 348 +95 'U U 27 +99 348 +99 {y 27 +95 347 +95 27 +19 L7 Z 347 +99 L 27 +15 (U y 347 +85 Q 27 +29 } 4ti 347 +89 L 0 27 +25 4ti 347 +75 s L CL 27 +39 C c 347 +79 0 L C7 Hay Jun Jun Jun 26 92 99 16 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) 26 +99 4J �F 26 +59 S } L) 27 +$$r-I L L G] � 27 +5$ r O � 4 28 +$$ C6 4� G 28 59 349 +99 , 0! 348 +59 G L7 z 348 +$$ o O 347 +5$ G} } 4ti r-I 347 +$$ L 4ti M + 3 N Jul Sep Now Jan Mar May r- 0 2911 2911 2911 2912 2912 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) 16 17 USES 353219077153801 PI-532 (NC-160) NR IMP ON, NC (SURFICIAL,) 0.0 56.0 4J CU CU Q. 1.0 55.0 2.0 z 54.0 (U L m ,-I = 3.0 CU L (U 53.0 D Qy 4 L 4.0 CU -p m 52.0 CL C L 5.0 0 May Jun Jun Jun 26 02 09 16 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 1.9 55.9 Q- 0 ry 2 +9 y4 *$ S o% 3.9 #$ y2•$ 41 +9 51.9 �- #09t9 } CU �} r - 7.9 49.9 rl L C6 p 8.9 Gi P 48.$ s N 9.9 o Jul Sep Now Jan Mar May L 2911 2911 2911 2912 2912 2912 0 — Daily nean depth to water level Period of approved data Period of provisional data — Lowest recorded water level prior to MY2911 (8.97 ft Oct 23,24, 2997) 18