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.

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Sunday, 2024-11-10)

Submitted by hmoltz on Sun, 11/10/2024 - 13:06

Situational Awareness (Sunday, 2024-11-10)
According to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center predictions, the next 24 hours may see 0.1 inches of rain in the basin. Over the next 3 days, the average basin rainfall may be around 0.3 inches. The week-long outlook expects a total of approximately 0.4 inches of rain in the basin.

Special Conditions
None

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Saturday, 2024-11-09)

Submitted by admin1 on Sat, 11/09/2024 - 13:55

Situational Awareness (Saturday, 2024-11-09)
Dry conditions persist throughout the Potomac basin. Yesterday’s Potomac River flow at the US Geological Survey’s Point of Rocks gage was 1790 cfs (cubic feet per second), just above the 20th percentile flow of 1740 cfs for that day of the year. According to Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center predictions, a modest amount of rainfall is expected in the coming days: 0.3 inches over the next 3 days and 0.6 inches over the coming week.

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Friday, 2024-11-08)

Submitted by hmoltz on Fri, 11/08/2024 - 13:20

Situational Awareness (Friday, 2024-11-08)
According to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center predictions, no rain is expected in the basin over the next 24 hours.  Over the next 3 days, 0.2 inches of rain is forecasted.  The week-long outlook expects a total of about 0.7 inches of rain in the basin.

Special Conditions
None

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Thursday, 2024-11-07)

Submitted by admin1 on Thu, 11/07/2024 - 12:58

Situational Awareness (Thursday, 2024-11-07):
Dry conditions persist in the Potomac River watershed. The Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center predicts no significant rain over the next 24 hours or three days. The week-long outlook suggests about 0.3 inches of rain as a front moves through the area, which is expected to have minimal impact on rivers and streams. 

Special Conditions:
None

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Wednesday, 2024-11-06)

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 11/06/2024 - 13:06

Situational Awareness (Wednesday, 2024-11-06):
Dry conditions continue in the Potomac River watershed. The Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center expects no rain in the next 24 hours or 3 days, with only 0.4 inches forecast over the week, likely having no hydrological impact. The November 11-15 outlook shows a slight chance of near to above-normal precipitation.

Special Conditions:
None

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Tuesday, 2024-11-05)

Submitted by admin1 on Tue, 11/05/2024 - 13:22

Situational Awareness (Tuesday, 2024-11-05)
Dry conditions continue throughout the Potomac River watershed, but a bit a relief is on the horizon. According to Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center predictions, approximately 0.3 inches of rain is expected over the next week.

Special Conditions
None

Recent basin-wide average precipitation (above Little Falls):

Reinitiating CO-OP daily Potomac flow and demand updates (Friday, 2024-11-01)

Submitted by admin1 on Fri, 11/01/2024 - 12:58

Situational Awareness (Friday, 2024-11-01)
ICPRB’s CO-OP Section is reinitiating daily drought monitoring and reporting today because yesterday’s Potomac River mean flow at the US Geological Survey’s stream gage at Point of Rocks, Maryland, fell below 2000 cubic feet per second (cfs), CO-OP’s daily monitoring threshold. According to forecasts by the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center, no appreciable precipitation is expected in the Potomac basin over the next week.