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 November 07.msg_20111108Strickland, Bev From: John C Weaver Dcweaver @usgs.gov] Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2011 11:59 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, November 07 NC Drought advisory group, Precipitation totals across most of North Carolina during the past week were fairly decent with widespread 0.5+ inch totals with even higher totals of 1+ and 2+ inches across the northern Piedmont as well as the central and northern Coastal Plain (http:/ /water.weather.gov /precip /). The only area noted as receiving less than 0.5 -inch rainfall is a small region across the Hiwassee and Little Tennessee River basins in extreme western North Carolina. Streamflows during the past week responded to the rainfalls, particularly across the northern Piedmont and Coastal Plain where the higher totals occurred. Inspection of the current real -time streamflow map (http:Hwaterwatch.usgs.gov/ new / ?m= real &r =nc &w= real %2Cmap) indicates a fair number of USGS streamgages with flow conditions depicted in the above - normal ranges at this time. The only areas with consistently below - normal conditions is in the Broad River basin where streamflows at a couple streamgages are depicted in the "less than 10th percentile range." Below normal conditions are also still visible in the extreme western part of the state where the lowest rainfall totals occurred during the past week. As of November 06 (Sunday), streamflow conditions indicate 18 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 streamflow relative to 42 percent just a week ago. Water levels at the 10 Blue Ridge, Piedmont, and Sand Hills observations wells continue to be depicted on the Climate Response Network in North Carolina (http://ogwOl.er.usgs.gov/crn/StateMaps/NC.html) in the normal range for 8 wells and much below normal for 2 wells: one near Marston in Scotland County (http: // qroundwaterwatch .usgs.gov /AWLSites.asp ?S= 345812079313401 &ncd =crn) and the well at Chapel Hill in Orange County (http: // qroundwaterwatch .usgs.gov /AWLSites. asp ?S = 355522079043001 &ncd =crn). Of note, the water levels at the Chapel Hill well have leveled off in the past several weeks (http: / /waterdata.usgs.gov /nwis /uv ?cb 72019 =on &format =qif default &period =28 &site no= 355522079043001) after a continual decline since mid -June. While a declining pattern could easily resume when the rainfall stops, it is worth noting the pattern of the past weeks when considering potential adjustments to the drought depictions. The water levels for the 6 wells in the Coastal Plain are depicted in the normal range for 4 wells, above normal for 1 well in Pitt County ( http : / /groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov /AWLSites. asp ?S = 353219077153801 &ncd =crn), and below normal for 1 well near Grantham in Wayne County (http: // qroundwaterwatch .usgs.gov /AWLSites.asp ?S= 353219077153801 &ncd =crn). Draft 1 for this week's release was available as of Monday afternoon with no changes yet indicated for North Carolina. Changes to the NC depictions in last week's USDM included minor DO trimming across the Tar River basin. Given the precipitation of last week (http:/ /water.weather.gov /precip /) and the overall response in streamflows (http:Hwaterwatch.usgs.gov/ new / ?m= real &r =nc &w= real %2Cmap), there may be some justification to introduce improvements in the northeast Piedmont where DO and D1 have been in effect for several weeks. There was some discussion last week about this situation, but the group consensus was to maintain status quo for most of that area. The USDM author for this week has noted the rainfall that occurred during the past week and may be hinting towards some improvements( ?). The DO and D1 in the northeast Piedmont have been maintained in part due to the Chapel Hill well that is close to POR low water level. Discussion in recent weeks also has focused on the Falls Lake watershed, in which lake levels at upstream two impoundments (Little River Reservoir, Lake Michie) continue to be below spillway, thus affecting the water levels in Falls Lake despite recent rainfalls. Would suggest "status quo" elsewhere across 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 1 for this week's version was available with no changes yet indicated for North Carolina. Brian Fuchs, climatologist with the National Drought Mitigation Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, is again the USDM author for this week's release. In the email accompanying draft 1, he made no specific comments concerning the Carolinas region. 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- a IIrl� E 4 � F �e 11 lit _ ^YY k t eS - a�x 11 �;% fir 0 I IN, AM ,? '��t' 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/ x 4� Convert Select G Search ......................................... ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Customize Links OL� Free Hotmail OL uv-02111000 I , Windows Marketplace OL� Windows Media �A Favorites USGS North Carolina ... Internal Horne- USGS... USGS North Carolina ... AHPS Precipitation An Sta State Climate Office of North Carolina Multi-sensor Precipitation Estimates lMPE) There are possible errors associated with these radar-based precipitation estimates- This product is in beta_ Select Layers: Precipitation: Estimate Difference from normal Percent of normal (?) Geographic: PI County lines Cities Rivers and Streams 0 HUC-6 El HUC-8 Transportation: El Highways Internal users login -- 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, Mouenber 08, 2011 08 :30ET Last week's conditions... Tuesday, Nouenber 01, 2011 09 :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 (November 08 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) Lo X10 � 10 r -s0 >0 � - �: 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 (November 08 morning) at some selected gaging stations (obtained from http : / /waterdata.usgs.gov /nc /nwis /current / ?type =flow ): Site number Site name (and County) Flow Nov 01 Current flow (% of) Median Nov 08 02053200 Potecasi Creek near Union (Hertford) -- 69 cfs 207 cfs 8630 24 cfs 02106500 Black River near Tomahawk (Sampson) -- 104 cfs 398 cfs 1260 317 cfs 02085500 Flat River at Bahama (Durham) -- 14 cfs 23 cfs 110% 21 cfs 02096960 Haw River near Bynum (Chatham) -- 267 cfs 755 cfs 2660 284 cfs 02115360 Yadkin River at Enon (Yadkin) -- 1,010 cfs 1,230 cfs 83% 1,480 cfs 02152100 First Broad River near Casar (Cleveland) -- 23 cfs 25 cfs 530 47 cfs 03451500 French Broad River at Asheville (Buncombe) -- 727 cfs 904 cfs 790 1,140 cfs 03550000 Valley River at Tomotla (Cherokee) -- 55 cfs 59 cfs 74% 80 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, Houenber 07, 2011 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, Houenber 07, 2011 As of November 06 (Sunday), the graph of 7 -day flow percentiles shown below indicates 18 percent of sites across North Carolina have percentiles for 7 -day average flows falling below the 25th percentile for the calendar date. And 3 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 October 30 (Sunday), the current values indicate improvements in overall streamflow conditions during course of the past week, considering 42% of sites across the state were below the 25th percentile and 12% 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 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 ON 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 November 07 (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, November 07, 2011 ■ 0 t4��'s Ski Explanation Unregulated Regulated No - No Drought ( >30 percentile) DO - Abnormally Dry (21 to 30 percentile) D ❑ D1 - Moderate Drought (11 to 20 percentile) D2 - Severe Drought (6 to 10 percentile) r s' D3 - Extreme Drought (3 to 5 percentile) D4 - Exceptional Drought (0 to 2 percentile) n/d - Not determined ❑ 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 GO 7:x,141,1111 lei 5 to 10 p•ercentile decrease r y Ei Leers ❑► Automated DM maps (short string) E] ❑ (weekly change in 7 -day median p•ercerr F: ® gall othervalues? 10 to 25 percentile increase 25 to 50 percentile decrease Greaterthan 50 percentile decrease E IiM .Raft � •< a wn ? y KA Display Source Selection Catalog Drawing ❑ trial 1B B 1 U w �i -- Ground Water -- 12 5 to 10 p•ercentile increase 0 to 5 percentile increase No percentile change 4 to 5 percentile decrease lei 5 to 10 p•ercentile decrease 10 to 25 percentile decrease 25 to 50 percentile decrease Greaterthan 50 percentile decrease E IiM .Raft � •< a wn ? y KA Display Source Selection Catalog Drawing ❑ trial 1B B 1 U w �i -- Ground Water -- 12 Please visit the Climate Response Network page at http: / /groundwaterwatch. usqs. gov /StateMapsNet.asp ?ncd= crn &sc =37 (map shown below) for more information on ground -water conditions at selected USGS observation wells in North Carolina. AWES VIRGINIA h rlQtte v "! 17 Uliarsauu unto ; F ok Logan Oak .,i V I Ek {i. A Ta,pp""A'annock Atlantic into Bedtle Sapid �tdti ham ° �Welo U"nio White Mane Beach 60 , 0 1 g Co �omaJ 1 1413h l� t (E,astville ° " "P asking Oanok" f� grt Me Virginia 7 Explanation - Percentile class �. ......ee __ New <10 1024 25-75 75-90 >90 New Not Bel' ..... — - ....... " Low hrluch ''""' ""'Bel' 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) 13 14 - 2114.00 33.20 CU Q. - 2113.80 - 2113.40 L CU 34.00 L CU - 2113.00 CL 34.20 Oct Oct Oct Nov 15 22 29 05 2011 2011 2011 2011 ---- 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 4J 31.9 2118.9 M 32.9 211519 } 33.0 2114.9 L G 34.0 211319 M J H C � a 35.0 L Jan Mar May Jul Sep Now 2911 2911 2911 2911 2911 2911 — 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 Rte -149 NC -193) PIEDMONT RS 1 NR BARBER (RE OLIT m C 7.80 670.20 8.00 670.00 y cQ 4 8.2$ 669 +80 Lo 0 Qb L 8.40 669.60 m L Q GU } 8.60 669.40 C: 'i L CU m 8.80 669,20 C d L Oct Oct Oct Now ca 15 22 29 05 2011 2011 2011 2011 - - -- Provisional data Subject to Revision - - -- 0 Measured depth to water level — Depth to water level 16 (EASTERN PIEDMONT) NC -126 at Chapel Hill in Orange County ( http:/ /waterdata.usgs.gov /nc /nwis /dv/ ?site no= 355522079043001 &agency cd =USGS &referred module =sw) USGS SGS 354057080362601 Rte -149 (SIC -193) PIEDMONT RS 1 NR BARBER (RE OLIT a 672 +0 1 6 +0 0 46 +20 465 +30 CU � 4J 6.5 671 +5 y N 46 +3$ 465 +20 G } �F 7 +9 671 +0 G 4} 46 +35 465 +15 4} } L) C 7 +5 ��FL 670 +5 z L L 46 +45 465 +05 m -0 8 +0 670 +0 r 46 +50 465 +00 L � �} L 8 +5 669 +5 -4 4J C6 L Gi 4� ° 9 +0 669 +0 +} s -J Oct Oct Oct Now r H G 9.5 124 668 +5 0 Jan Mar May Jul Sep Now 2011 2011 2011 2011 CL7 2011 2911 2911 2011 2911 2911 - - -- Provisional data Subject to Revision - - -- — Daily nean depth to water level Period of provisional data Period of approved data (EASTERN PIEDMONT) NC -126 at Chapel Hill in Orange County ( http:/ /waterdata.usgs.gov /nc /nwis /dv/ ?site no= 355522079043001 &agency cd =USGS &referred module =sw) 17 USGS 355522079 143001 OR -069 (NC-126) AT CHAPEL HILL, H (RE t LITH) to 46 +20 465 +30 ° F 46 +25 465 +25 y N 46 +3$ 465 +20 G } �F L7 z 4} 46 +35 465 +15 4} � L 46 +40 ��FL 465 +10 m L 46 +45 465 +05 :0 q, 46 +50 465 +00 L � m 46 +55 464 +95 Q L d L Oct Oct Oct Now ca 15 22 29 05 2011 2011 2011 2011 - - -- Provisional data Subject to Revision - - -- Measured depth to water level — Depth to water level 17 (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 USGS 3555 079043001 OR -069 (NC -126) AT CHAPEL HILL, H (RE t LITH) a 43.9 468.5 w cu Q Q. 43.5 468.9 44.9 467.5 0 z Do L) 44.5 467.9 L s 45.9 466.5 cu D L 45.5 466.9 C6 Gib Q ° 46.9 465.5 +} s J r H CE G 46.5 465.9 0 0 Jan Mar May Jul Sep Now CL 2911 2911 2911 2911 2911 2911 — Daily nean depth to water level Period of provisional data Period of approved data (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 C 54.00 CU 2.50 53.50 m 3.00 z 53.00 (U L m 3.50 CU L (U D 0 4J 52.50 L 4.00 CU CL 52.00 L 4.50 0 Oct Oct Oct Nov 15 22 29 05 2011 2011 2011 2011 ---- Provisional Data Subject to Revision ---- 19 20 USGS 353 19077153801 PI -532 (NC-160) NR SIMPSON, N URFI IAL) O 4ti 1.9 55.9 Q- 0 2 +9 54 *$ C. o% Sq 3.9 #$ 52•$ 41 (U 0 +9 51.9 0 (U #09t9 } Cu �} r -W 7.9 49.9 rl L C6 p 8.9 Cu P 48.$ s N 9.9 0 o Jan Mar May Jul Sep Now 0 2911 2911 2911 2911 2911 2911 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) 20