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Home My WebLink About20051457 Ver 1_USGS streamflow and ground-water conditions in NC through Monday March 05 2012.msg_20120306Strickland, Bev From: John C Weaver Dcweaver @usgs.gov] Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2012 12:21 PM To: Jackson, Donna; 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, March 05, 2012 NC Drought advisory group, Good precipitation occurred across North Carolina during the past week, as indicated by the precipitation totals maps for the state (http:/ /water.weather.gov /precip/ or http : / /www.nc - climate.ncsu.edu /mpe departure). With exception of just a few very small areas, amounts of 0.5+ inch rainfall occurred statewide with higher totals from 1 to 2+ inches across a large part of the Coastal Plain. Likewise, rainfall amounts of 2+ inches are noted for parts of the southern mountains in the Little Tennessee and Hiwassee River basins. Streamflow conditions indicated on the current real -time streamflow map (http:Hwaterwatch.usgs.gov/ new / ?m= real &r =nc &w= real %2Cmap) echo last week's rainfall patterns with normal and above - normal streamflows at many USGS streamgages in the Coastal Plain. Along similar lines, short-term improvements are noted in a mix of streamflow conditions depicted in the southern mountains where below - normal conditions had been expanding the previous few weeks. Streamflow conditions in the Piedmont region continue to be predominantly below normal with the most widespread area of "less than 10th percentile" conditions in the northern counties from the Triad to the Triangle areas. Rainfall totals in the Piedmont region were relatively lower among the totals observed during the past weeks. As of March 04 (Sunday), streamflow conditions indicate 49 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 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 normal range for 7 wells, below normal for the well near Mocksville in Davie County, 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) It should be noted that water levels at the Mocksville well (http: // qroundwaterwatch .usgs.gov /AWLSites.asp ?S= 355359080331701 &ncd =crn) actually increased about 0.2 feet during the past week. However, the arrival of March also brought a shift in background percentile statistics such that current water levels are depicted as below normal. Water levels have historically been the highest in March and April just prior to the start of the warm months. Water levels increased in the Coastal Plain wells following last week's rainfalls. The levels in 3 of the 6 Coastal Plain wells are depicted in the normal ranges and above normal for the well near Simpson in Pitt County. The water levels at 2 remaining wells are depicted in the below - normal range at Comfort in Jones County and much below - normal range for the well at Southport in Brunswick County. Draft 1 for this week's release was available as of Monday afternoon with some D1 /D2 trimming in the Coastal Plain following last week's rainfalls. Changes made to last week's release included DO expansion across the western Piedmont and parts of the southern /central mountains regions. Concerning this week's release... (1) No deterioration in the drought categories appears to be warranted following last week's rainfalls. (2) The small area of D2 remaining after the draft 1 adjustment by this week's USDM author may need to be re- examined given the occurrence of 2+ inches across the southern Coastal Plain( ?). Given that much of the D2 was trimmed, it raises the questions as to what justified maintaining the D2 for this small area. (3) Conditions in the northern Piedmont counties (Triad to Triangle) may justify a D1 expansion, but the occurrence of last week's rainfall (albeit relatively lower totals) may warrant holding off on that adjustment for another week. (4) The Broad and Catawba River basins need continued close monitoring for a possible deterioration to D1 in the coming week if no substantial rainfalls occur. 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 some D1 /D2 trimming indicated for the Coastal Plain region in North Carolina. Mike Brewer, NIDIS U.S. Drought Portal Manager at NOAA's National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, is the USDM author for this week's release. In the email accompanying draft 1, he made the following specific comments concerning North Carolina: NC - some trimming of D1 and D2 on the coast in the area of the 2 "+ rains for the last storm. Will look for input from local group. 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/ C s a., kE tt r t z x L`F J _ _ 3 5 t` `e IF Y I i Y f y ` - _ T � t t" V. I� 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 3/6/2012 1200 UTC— Created 3/6/12 15:55 UTC -- Streamflow -- 4: 110,111MITITERIT110111111111 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, March 06, 2012 09 :30ET WIM MUSIGS Last week's conditions... Tuesday, February 28, 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 O 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 (March 06 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 28 Current flow (% of) Median Mar 06 02053200 Potecasi Creek near Union (Hertford) -- 180 cfs 492 cfs 1460 336 cfs 02106500 Black River near Tomahawk (Sampson) -- 546 cfs 1,290 cfs 104% 1,240 cfs 02085500 Flat River at Bahama (Durham) -- 51 cfs 57 cfs 410 140 cfs 02096960 Haw River near Bynum (Chatham) -- 708 cfs 825 cfs 510 1,630 cfs 02115360 Yadkin River at Enon (Yadkin) -- 1,800 cfs 1,800 cfs 710 2,550 cfs 02152100 First Broad River near Casar (Cleveland) -- 47 cfs 48 cfs 460 105 cfs 03451500 French Broad River at Asheville (Buncombe) -- 1,300 cfs 1,620 cfs 730 2,220 cfs 03550000 Valley River at Tomotla (Cherokee) -- 188 cfs 386 cfs 1050 366 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, March 05, 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, March 05, 2012 As of March 04 (Sunday), the graph of 7 -day flow percentiles shown below indicates 49 percent of sites across North Carolina have percentiles for 7 -day average flows falling below the 25th percentile for the calendar date. And 11 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 26 (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 18% 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 Monday 05 (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, March 05, 2012 Previous 30 days Monday, March 05, 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 El 0 Layers E] ❑+ .,automated DM maps (short string) El ❑D � ® all othervalues�, 10 to 25 percentile increase 25 to 50 percentile decrease Greaterthan 50 percentile decrease rrs p h° Editor T w6'�ate N eA, Feat.uie Display Source Selection I a' 0 iii Qrawing,, ; „ > El [ i gel _ 7 T -- Ground Water -- 10 S�_M: 5 to 10 percentile increase 0 to 5 percentile increase No percentile change B to 5 percentile decrease 5 to 10 percentile decrease 10 to 25 percentile decrease 25 to 50 percentile decrease Greaterthan 50 percentile decrease rrs p h° Editor T w6'�ate N eA, Feat.uie Display Source Selection I a' 0 iii Qrawing,, ; „ > El [ i gel _ 7 T -- Ground Water -- 10 S�_M: 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 Vllll JAIA �Gaunto �f�r,141te�v �, ?i 17 t Warsaw ok� Logan Oak V I' R G. I a,ppaanncd< Atlantic Bedde into Saluda, 'ham White Mane Beach �Welc Union L' bur 60, C o Tg C,nial Highfs�E,astville P askr o nokr, ort He Virginia 4onyvay, G rth'flr dle Beach n Kingstree, Myrtle Beach 'c Georgetown nervtile 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 ..... — - ....... " Low hrluch Below Belcw Normal l cve 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 351 080823 '430 TR-065 (NC-144) AT BLANTYRE, NC (REGOLITH) 28.00 2119.00 CU Q. 28.50 2118.50 4J 29.00 z 2118.00 0 (U (U L ,-I = m 29.50 CU L (U 2117.50 4J L 30.00 CU 4J m 2117.00 4J CL C L 30.50 Feb Feb Feb Mar 11 18 25 03 2012 2012 2012 2012 ---- Provisional Data Subject to Revision ---- 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 2118.9 32.9 211519 } cu �} 4 33.0 2114.9 L Q cu G 34.0 211319 M J H C � a 35.0 L May Jul Sep Now Jan Mar 2911 2911 2911 2911 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 SGS 3540 x'0803 01 Rte -149 NC -193) PIEDMONT RS 1 NR BARBER (RE OLIT m C 7 19 + 679 +99 0 7 +20 679 +89 y � 4 7 +3$ 679 +7$ Lo �F z p m 7 +4$ 679 +6$ 0 G] L m Q 7 +59 679 +59 L O 7 +69 679 +49 CU L � C p 7 +7$ ,... 679 +3$ C 7 Feb Feb Feb Mar Lo 11 18 25 93 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 6 +0 USES 3 544040 78403101 WK -284 LAK E' HEELER 672 +9 1 0 347 +29 CU � 4J 6.5 671 +5 347 +15 Q27 7 +9 +99 671 +9 G 347 +19 } L) 7 +5 679 +5 z L z 347 +95 M -0 8 +9 679 +9 > r 347 +99 28 +95 �} L 8 +5 669 +5 -4 4J C6 346 +95 CU L aJ 28 +19 L Gi 4� ° 9 +9 m 669 +9 +} s -J 346 +99 �1 r H G 9.5 224 668 +5 � *' May Jul Sep Now Jan Mar CL7 2911 2911 2911 2911 2912 2912 28 +29 — Daily nean depth to water level Period of provisional data 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) 347 +29 27 +85 347 +15 Q27 N 0! +99 347 +19 a Lo U 27 +95 z 347 +95 28 +99 > 347 +99 28 +95 +4 346 +95 CU L aJ 28 +19 m 346 +99 �1 28 +15 m *' 346 +85 28 +29 346 +89 ° Feb Feb Feb Mar L 11 18 25 93 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} N 25 +59 349 +59 y 26 +99 349 +99 } G] Z L 26 +59 - 348 +59 27 +99 348 +99 +4 r r-I ° 1 � 27 +59 347 +5$ y L r-I C 28 +99 347 +99 G a= M 28 +5$ N May Jul Sep Now Jan Mar r- 0 2911 2911 2911 2911 2912 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,) 1.00 4J 55.00 1.50 54.50 2.00 Lo z 54.00 (U L '-J m m o 2.50 P-1 L Q CU DO 4J 53.50 CU 3.00 L CU 4J 4J 4J 53.00 C6 3.50 C Feb Feb Feb Mar L Lo 11 18 25 03 2012 2012 2012 2012 ---- Provisional Data Subject to Revision ---- 0 Measured depth to water level — Depth to water level 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 54 *$ S o% 3.9 21 5 #$ 52•$ 41 0 5.0 51.9 0 �- #09t9 } CU r -W 7.9 49.9 rl L C6 p 8.9 Gi P 48.$ s N 9.9 0 o May Jul Sep Now Jan Mar 0 2911 2911 2911 2911 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