Spring Rains Help Water Levels

March rains helped water levels increase across Maryland and Delaware, according to hydrologists at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in Baltimore, Maryland. Additionally, water storage in the Baltimore reservoir system increased by 5 percent to 92 percent of capacity at the end of March.

Streamflow entering the Chesapeake Bay during March also increased to 67.0 bgd (billion gallons per day), but this level is still 21 percent below the long-term average and below-average conditions have persisted since September 2000 (see graphs at http://md.water.usgs.gov/monthly/bay.html). Streamflow at the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., increased by 56 percent over February, but was 26 percent below the long-term average for March. Streamflow at the Choptank River near Greensboro, Maryland, on the Eastern Shore, was 50 percent above normal.

Ground-water levels for Maryland and Delaware continued to increase, putting most water levels in the normal range. Twenty new sites have been added to the monthly updates of ground-water conditions for key observation wells in Maryland and Delaware available at: http://md.water.usgs.gov/groundwater/. The graphs show monthly water levels and long-term records for 39 water-table wells and 13 artesian wells.

As the Nation's largest water, earth and biological science, and civilian mapping agency, the USGS works in cooperation with more than 2,000 organizations across the country to provide reliable, impartial scientific information to resource managers, planners, and other customers. This information is gathered in every state by USGS scientists to minimize the loss of life and property from natural disasters, contribute to the sound conservation and the economic and physical development of the nation's natural resources, and enhance the quality of life by monitoring water, biological, energy, and mineral resources.

Posted: 4-12-2001