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 (Thursday, 2025-10-02)

Submitted by admin1 on Thu, 10/02/2025 - 13:03

Situational Awareness (Thursday, 2025-10-02)
No rainfall fell in the Potomac watershed yesterday according to Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center (MARFC) estimates. Dry conditions are predicted to persist in the watershed for the next five days, according to forecasts from MARFC and from the National Weather Services Weather Prediction Center.  

Special Conditions

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Wednesday, 2025-10-01)

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 10/01/2025 - 12:48

Situational Awareness (Wednesday, 2025-10-01)
Potomac River flows have been hovering around 2000 cfs due to the recent rain, but no significant rainfall is expected over the next 10 days. According to information from the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center, trace amounts to 1/4 inch of rain fell in the southern half of the Potomac watershed over the past 24 hours and no rain is forecast over the next 3 days.

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Tuesday, 2025-09-30)

Submitted by admin1 on Tue, 09/30/2025 - 02:58

Situational Awareness (Tuesday, 2025-09-30)
Trace amounts of rain fell in the lower basin yesterday. According to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center predictions, no appreciable rain is expected over the next five days.

Special Conditions
The USGS website appears to be down and gage data are not available at this time.

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Monday, 2025-09-29)

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 09/29/2025 - 02:56

Situational Awareness (Monday, 2025-09-29)
Flows have moderately increased over the past week. Flow at Point of Rocks is currently hovering around 2,000 cfs. No rainfall was recorded in the basin over the past 24 hours, according to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center. Over the next three days, 0.01 to 0.1 inches of rain are expected, with no substantial rainfall forecast for the week.

Special Conditions
None

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Thursday, 2025-09-25)

Submitted by admin1 on Thu, 09/25/2025 - 12:50

Situational Awareness (Thursday, 2025-09-25)

Potomac River flows are expected to rise slightly over the next several days according to Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center (MARFC) predictions. MARFC estimates that total rainfall over the past three days has ranged from 0.25 to 1 inches in most portions of the Potomac watershed above Little Falls. Cumulative precipitation forecasts call for 0.50 to 0.75 inches of rain over the next three days.

Special Conditions

None

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Tuesday, 2025-09-23)

Submitted by snummer on Tue, 09/23/2025 - 12:54

Situational Awareness (Tuesday, 2025-09-23)
According to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center, trace amounts of rainfall feel in western portions of the upper basin over the past 24 hours. The next 72 hours may see between 0.5 and 2 inches of rain. While the week-long outlook expects a total rainfall between 0.75 and 2 inches in the basin.

Special Conditions
None