Monitoring Reports

During periods of drought, the Cooperative Water Supply Operations on the Potomac (CO-OP) helps manage the Washington metropolitan area water supply system by coordinating withdrawals from the Potomac River and off-river reservoirs and recommending releases from upstream reservoirs when forecasted flow in the river is not sufficient to meet expected needs. These needs include water demands and an environmental flow-by of 100 million gallons per day (MGD) on the Potomac River at Little Falls dam near Washington, D.C.

SUSPENDING DAILY DROUGHT MONITORING; Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Saturday, 2025-12-27)

Submitted by admin1 on Sat, 12/27/2025 - 14:11

Situational Awareness (Saturday, 2025-12-27)
According to information from the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center (MARFC), Potomac River flow at the USGSs Point of Rocks gage will likely remain about CO-OP’s daily drought reporting threshold of 2000 cfs for the next week. Therefore, we are suspending daily drought monitoring and reporting for the time being. 

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Friday, 2025-12-26)

Submitted by snummer on Fri, 12/26/2025 - 13:53

Situational Awareness (Friday, 2025-12-26)
According to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center, trace amounts of rainfall fell in the basin over the past 24 hours. Over the next 3 days, the average rainfall may be around 0.1 inches, with greater accumulations occurring in northern portions of the basin. 

Special Conditions
None

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Thursday, 2025-12-25)

Submitted by admin1 on Thu, 12/25/2025 - 16:05

Situational Awareness (Thursday, 2025-12-25)
According to information from the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center, modest amounts of rain fell in the Potomac watershed during the past 24 hours - up to 0.25 inches. Over the next 3 days, the average accumulations of approximately 0.1 inches are expected. 

Special Conditions
Happy holidays!

Daily flows:
Little Falls gage flow 2025-12-24: 1674 MGD (2590 cfs)

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Tuesday, 2025-12-23)

Submitted by admin1 on Tue, 12/23/2025 - 13:27

Situational Awareness (Tuesday, 2025-12-23)
According to information from the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center, 0.01 to 0.25 inches of rain fell in the northern portion of the Potomac watershed during the past 24 hours and average accumulations of approximately 0.1 inches are expected over the next 3 days. 

Special Conditions
Yesterday’s daily flow at Point of Rocks was unavailable and was computed from provisional real-time data.

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Monday, 2025-12-22)

Submitted by snummer on Mon, 12/22/2025 - 14:01

Situational Awareness (Monday, 2025-12-22)
According to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center, no rain fell in the basin over the past 24 hours. The week-long outlook expects a total of approximately 0.1 to 0.25 inches of rain in the basin, with greater totals expected in western portions of the basin.

Special Conditions
None

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Wednesday, 2025-12-17)

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 12/17/2025 - 14:14

Situational Awareness (Wednesday, 2025-12-17)
According to information from the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center (MARFC), there was no precipitation during the past 24 hours in the Potomac River watershed about Little Falls. MARFC ensemble forecasts indicate that the watershed will receive a cumulative average of approximately 1/2 inch of rain over the next 3 days.

Special Conditions

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Monday, 2025-12-15)

Submitted by snummer on Mon, 12/15/2025 - 14:09

Situational Awareness (Monday, 2025-12-15)
According to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center, trace amounts of precipitation fell in eastern portions of the basin over the past 24 hours. Over the next 3 days, no precipitation is anticipated. However, the week-long outlook expects a total of approximately 0.5 inches of precipitation in the basin.