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 (Friday 10/03/2014)

Submitted by admin1 on Fri, 10/03/2014 - 09:00

This email reports observed flows and demands as part of ongoing drought operations. A separate email will be provided with today's information for the annual drought exercise.

The National Weather Service reports that no rain fell in the basin in the last 24-hour period. There is a chance of 1/4 to 1/2 an inch of rain in the 24-hour forecast. The 7-day forecast indicates accumulations between 3/4 and 1 inch of rain is possible across the basin.

DROUGHT EXERCISE - Afternoon simulated Potomac flow and demand update (Thursday 10/02/2014) - DROUGHT EXERCISE

Submitted by admin1 on Thu, 10/02/2014 - 14:00

SIMULATED SCENARIO: Last night's Derecho event continues to impact the area; however, precipitation has ended. Communications are still only available via email. Due to rainfall associated with the event, flows at Little Falls have risen to 570 mgd. WSSC will shut off the release from Little Seneca Reservoir if they can access the dam. Everyone else is proceeding with operational requests to shift back to the Potomac River as much as possible to take advantage of elevated flows.

THE FLOWS, DEMANDS, AND DISCHARGES REPORTED BELOW REFLECT ACTUAL CONDITIONS:

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Thursday 10/02/2014)

Submitted by admin1 on Thu, 10/02/2014 - 09:00

This email reports observed flows and demands as part of ongoing drought operations. A separate email will be provided with today's information for the annual drought exercise.

Only trace amounts of rain fell over the Potomac basin over the past 24 hours. The Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center predicts accumulations of 1/10 to 1/2 inch in the basin over the next 72 hours. Potomac River flow at Point of Rocks is beginning to rise due to the USACE's Sep 27-28 Artificially Varied Flow (AVF) release from the North Branch reservoirs.

DROUGHT EXERCISE - Afternoon simulated Potomac flow and demand update (Wednesday 10/01/2014) - DROUGHT EXERCISE

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 10/01/2014 - 14:00

SIMULATED: Today's high temperature forecast is 104 degrees F. Scattered thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening, and the National Weather Service has issued a severe weather watch for the Baltimore-Washington region. Operational recommendations remain the same as reported in this morning's email.

THE FLOWS, DEMANDS, AND DISCHARGES REPORTED BELOW REFLECT ACTUAL CONDITIONS:

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Wednesday 10/01/2014)

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 10/01/2014 - 09:00

This email reports observed flows and demands as part of ongoing drought operations. A separate email will be provided with today's information for the annual drought exercise.

The National Weather Service reports that rain fell across the entire basin over the last 24 hours. Accumulation totals range from trace amounts to 1.25 inches. There may be an additional accumulation of trace amounts today. The 72-hour forecast indicates the basin may receive between one- and three-quarters of an inch of rain.

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Tuesday 09/30/2014)

Submitted by admin1 on Tue, 09/30/2014 - 09:00

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Tuesday 09/30/2014)

Only trace amounts of precipitation fell in the Potomac basin over the past 24 hours. The Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center forecasts accumulations ranging from 0 to 3/4 inches in the basin over the next 72 hours. The National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center forecasts over an inch of rain in the western portion of the basin over the next 5 days.

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Sunday 09/28/2014)

Submitted by admin1 on Sun, 09/28/2014 - 09:00

The National Weather Service reports that trace amounts of rain fell in small, isolated areas of the basin over the last 24 hours. Their 48-hour forecast shows no rain in the basin. Trace amounts may fall in the western portion of the basin over the next five days.

A scheduled artificially varied flow release of 1,000 cfs from Jennings Randolph Reservoir began yesterday at 10 am and will end today at 4 pm.