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 June 25 2012.msg_20120626Strickland, Bev From: John C Weaver Dcweaver @usgs.gov] Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2012 11:21 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 25, 2012 NC Drought advisory group, Inspection of the precipitation maps for North Carolina (http:/ /water.weather.gov /precip/ or http: / /www.nc- climate.ncsu.edu /mpe departure) indicates the "lion's share" of widespread rainfall greater than 0.5 inch during the past week occurred in the Sand Hills region as well as most of the Coastal Plain region. Even higher totals exceeding 1.0 inch are depicted along with a "hit -n- miss" pattern of 2+ inches noted across these two regions. In much of the Piedmont and Blue Ridge regions, rainfall totals were generally less than 0.5 inch. However, totals of 2+ inches are indicated for parts of Rutherford County in the Broad River basin. Below- normal conditions on the current real -time streamflow map (http:Hwaterwatch.usgs.gov/ new / ?m= real &r =nc &w= real %2Cmap) are depicted primarily in the northeast Piedmont and northwest Coastal Plain (upper Neuse and Tar River basins), then from the southwest Piedmont along the SC border into the southern mountains region. A number of gages in these areas indicate streamflow conditions in the "less than 10th percentile" range. Streamflow conditions depicted in the normal ranges are indicated for much of the Coastal Plain (with exception of NW part as mentioned above) as well as the northern foothills areas and mountains near the TN border. The 28 -day average flow map (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 and eastern Piedmont. This map also suggests a growing area of below - normal streamflow conditions in mountains region. As of June 24 (Sunday), streamflow conditions indicate 52 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 declines in overall streamflows relative to 25 percentjust 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) are depicted in the above - normal range for 1 well in Cherokee County (http: // qroundwaterwatch .usgs.gov /AWLSites. asp ?S = 351121083545002 &ncd =crn), the normal range for 4 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. As noted last week, water levels in the Coastal Plain continue to reflect the effects of 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. No changes were made to the USDM depiction in last week's release. There was discussion about expanding the DO for last week's release, but there also was some hesitation due to conflicting indicators that would be used as guidance in making the expansions. Thus a consensus was made to use "status quo" statewide with the understanding that some adjustments would likely be made for this week's barring any substantial rainfall. The 30 -day percent of normal precipitation (PNP, http : / /water.weather.gov /precip /) continues to suggest two primary areas of concern: (a) southern and central mountains, particularly in the upper French Broad and Broad River basins where PNP values are 25 to 50 percent, and (b) eastern Piedmont where PNP values are depicted in the 25 to 75 percent range in some areas. Other areas where low 30 -day PNP values are depicted include portions of the northern mountains near the headwaters of the Linville, Yadkin, and New Rivers. (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. Based on overall conditions, the group should consider expanding the current DO to include parts of the Broad River basin, upper French Broad River basin, the upper Neuse River basin, and upper Tar River basin. One hesitation concerning the Broad River basin is that about 2 inches rainfall was noted on the precipitation maps for Rutherford County. The NC group should closely monitor the northern mountains and foothills region with the possibility of expansion in the next week or two 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 afternoon, draft 2 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 again the USDM author 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 /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 6/26/2012 1200 UTC— Created 6/26/12 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... 4 Tuesday, June 26, 2012 09 :30ET WIM MUSIGS Last week's conditions... Tuesday, June 19, 2012 08 :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 26 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 19 Current flow (% of) Median Jun 26 02053200 Potecasi Creek near Union (Hertford) -- 37 cfs 27 cfs 169% 16 cfs 02106500 Black River near Tomahawk (Sampson) -- 166 cfs 148 cfs 610 244 cfs 02085500 Flat River at Bahama (Durham) -- 11 cfs 5.5 cfs 21% 26 cfs 02096960 Haw River near Bynum (Chatham) -- 159 cfs 143 cfs 55% 262 cfs 02115360 Yadkin River at Enon (Yadkin) -- 1,410 cfs 1,360 cfs 74% 1,830 cfs 02152100 First Broad River near Casar (Cleveland) -- 29 cfs 29 cfs 460 63 cfs 03451500 French Broad River at Asheville (Buncombe) -- 963 cfs 928 cfs 640 1,460 cfs 03550000 Valley River at Tomotla (Cherokee) -- 95 cfs 85 cfs 640 132 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 25, 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, June 25, 2012 As of June 24 (Sunday), the graph of 7 -day flow percentiles shown below indicates 52 percent of sites across North Carolina have percentiles for 7 -day average flows falling below the 25th percentile for the calendar date. And 15 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 17 (Sunday), the current values indicate declines in overall streamflow conditions during course of the past week, considering 25% of sites across the state were below the 25th percentile and 6% 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 25 (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 L L 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 ❑ 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 vt 1 _G [ �=i =_• r x r Editor { w t' r��te I evv FUltUre Ei Leers ❑► Automated DIVI maps (short string) El ❑: ® gall others =alues? 10 to 25 percentile increase 25 to 50 percentile decrease Greaterthan 50 percentile decrease Display Source Selection I Catalog I nillh��1�� Drawing T k r } ` ❑ ' � , dial . 1G B I U i T T .,Ow � �Q rr w -- Ground Water -- 10 5 to 10 p•ercentile increase 0 to 5 percentile increase No percentile change 4 to 5 percentile decrease 5 to 10 p•ercentile decrease 10 to 25 percentile decrease 25 to 50 percentile decrease Greaterthan 50 percentile decrease Display Source Selection I Catalog I nillh��1�� Drawing T k r } ` ❑ ' � , dial . 1G B I U i T T .,Ow � �Q rr w -- 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 27.66 2126,66 0 27,56 y GF 2119,56 4 �} } 28.$$ LO z 2119.66 �F Qy L 'i o 28.56 +4 F-I 2118.5$ 11 GL] +. GU i 29.66 CU +} 2118+$$ L 4 � C G 29.5$ C L Jun Jun Jun Jun ca 62 69 16 23 2612 2612 2612 2612 - - -- 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 2129.9 m Q Q. .0 28.9 .... 2119.9 4 4 29 +9 .... 2118.9 S d Duo 39.9 .... 2117.9 z QL 31.9 .... 2116.9 32.9 211519 } cu �} 33 +$ 2114.9 L C6 Q cu G 34 +$ 2113.9 M J H C � CE 35 +6 L Jul Sep Now Jan Mar Nay 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 USES 354057080362801 FAO -149 (NC-193) PIEDMONT FMS 1 NR BARBER ( E OLITH) m C 6 80 - 671.20 0 7.00 671.00 *' 7.20 670.80 ° Lo z 0 7.40 670,60 CU (U ; m L' 7.60 670.40 CU Q 4 > CU 7.80 670.20 L 4J CU 4J 4J 8.00 670.00 C6 o a L Jun Jun Jun Jun ca 02 09 16 23 2012 2012 2012 2012 - - -- Provisional Data Subject to Revision - - -- 0 Measured depth to water level — Depth to water level 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) a 3 544040 78403101 WK -284 LAK E' HEELER RS MW-3 S (RE G 672 +9 1 6 +9 0 348 +19 W CU 26 +95 e« � 6.5 671 +5 4J 7 +9 348 +99 671 +9 G 27 +95 d C7 a« } L) 347 +95 z z ' C 7 +5 679 +5 L 4 (U ' 27 +15 M -0 8 +9 679 +9 L C 347 +85 � A (} �} L 8 +5 669 +5 27 +29 +. L C6 Gi Q GU +} ° 9 +9 669 +9 s 27 +25 J r H 347 +75 ° � a 9 +5 668 +5 L Jul Sep Now Jan Mar May 2911 2911 2911 2912 2912 2912 — Daily nean depth to water level Period of provisional data Jun Jun Period of approved data (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) 348 +19 W 26 +95 e« 348 +95 348 +99 27 +95 d C7 a« 347 +95 z 27 +19 L 347 +9$ (U ' 27 +15 G} L 347 +85 � A s 27 +29 L 347 +8$ GU t 27 +25 347 +75 ° 27 +39 Jun Jun Jun Jun 92 99 16 23 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+99 349 +99 y 26 +59 348 +59 } L) z 27.99 z 348.99 o L r 27.59 347.59 -r 28.99 347.99 L C6 Gi Q +} G M >- 28.59 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 USES 353 19077153801 PI -532 (NC-160) NR SIMPSON, N URFI I L.) 4J G} 55.$ +« C 1•$ r-I s 1.5 O r-I G] .0 2.$ 4J 0 4 2.5 U 3.9 Qy L ri m L N 3.5 G] 4.$ O L 4.5 C6 p 5.$ Jun Jun Jun Jun 92 99 16 23 2912 2912 2912 2912 - - -- Provisional data Subject to Revision - - -- Measured depth to water level — Depth to water level 17 Oi 54.5 rl 54.$ > L7 z 53.5 O 53.$ m -4 CU } 52.5 L CU 52.$ i 51.5 C O L La 18 USGS 353 19077153801 PI -532 (NC-160) NR SIMPSON, N URFI IAL) O 4ti 1.9 55.0 Q- 2 ry +9 y4 *$ S 41 o% 3.9 #$ y2•$ 41 +9 51.9 �- #09t9 } CU �} r -W 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