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.

Afternoon Potomac flow and demand update (Monday 09/13/2010)

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 09/13/2010 - 14:00

No change in the weather forecast. Flows at Little Falls have improved temporarily. Utilities should operate per operation preference.

Daily Flows:
Little Falls gage flow 09/12: 460 MGD (710 cfs)
Little Falls gage flow 09/13: 580 MGD (est., based on most recently available real time data) (892 cfs)
Note: Gage flow at Little Falls is measured after water supply withdrawals.
Point of Rocks flow 09/12: 690 MGD (1060 cfs)
Point of Rocks flow 09/13: 720 MGD (est., based on recently available real time data) (1120 cfs)

Afternoon Potomac flow and demand update (Sunday 09/12/2010)

Submitted by admin1 on Sun, 09/12/2010 - 14:00

The rain falling across the basin today is helping to maintain flow
levels and, along with a drop in demands, is keeping utility
operations steady. The releases from the North Branch reservoirs
continue. The leading edge of the release can be seen at the Paw Paw,
WV gage on the mainstem Potomac River.

Washington Aqueduct will go off of the Little Falls pumping station
and back to Great Falls when possible. They were unable to reach the
station earlier in the day due to the triathlon taking place in the
area.

Afternoon Potomac flow and demand update (Saturday 09/11/2010)

Submitted by admin1 on Sat, 09/11/2010 - 14:00

Potomac River flow at the USGS's gage station at Little Falls is now in the vicinity of 300 MGD. There may be some relief from the dry weather this weekend; the National Weather Service predicts accumulations of up to 1/2 inch of rain throughout much of the basin today and tomorrow. The release from the North Branch reservoirs will continue through the weekend.

Afternoon Potomac flow and demand update (Friday 09/10/2010)

Submitted by admin1 on Fri, 09/10/2010 - 14:00

The Jennings Randolph water supply release, which started at 8:30 AM today (September 10), is currently visible at the USGS stream gage in Luke, MD. The USGS did a rating curve adjustment that resulted in an increase of 71 MGD (110 cfs) at Point of Rocks from this morning's reading. We are watching for the arrival of the Little Seneca release at Little Falls. Past tests have indicated that the time of travel is approximately 29 hours, which would imply the arrival to be at 1:00 PM.

Afternoon Potomac flow and demand update (Thursday 09/09/2010)

Submitted by admin1 on Thu, 09/09/2010 - 14:00

This afternoon we will be requesting concurrence from the general
managers for a release from Jennings Randolph beginning tomorrow
morning. The 50 MGD test release from Little Seneca Reservoir began at
8:00 AM today (September 9) and will continue through 8:00 AM tomorrow
(September 10). The release was observed by Karin Bencala of ICPRB
staff at a location approximately 1 mile downstream of the reservoir.
Flows were observed to be increasing by 9:15 AM. Black Hill Regional
Staff was setting out signs in the park notifying patrons that the

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Monday 09/06/2010)

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 09/06/2010 - 09:00

The basin continues to receive no precipitation, except for the small
amount seen yesterday. Both the 48-hour and the five-day National
Weather Service precipitation forecasts indicate no accumulated
rainfall in the basin. Given current conditions, enhanced monitoring
will likely begin tomorrow. Tomorrow we will contact the utilities
directly to confirm procedures.

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Saturday 09/04/2010)

Submitted by admin1 on Sat, 09/04/2010 - 09:00

Except for scattered amounts of trace rainfall yesterday, the basin has not received any precipitation over the past 7 days. The National
Weather Service predicts no precipitation in the basin over the next 48-hour period. A small amount of rain, up to 1/10 of an inch, is
being forecasted to fall in the North Branch area within the next five days. It appears that the artificially varied flow (AVF) release from
Jennings Randolph has reached Little Falls causing increased flow at the gage. It is expected that flows will drop again once the AVF

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Friday 09/03/2010)

Submitted by admin1 on Fri, 09/03/2010 - 09:00

Over the last 24 hours, less than a 0.1 of an inch of precipitation fell over the mainstem of the Potomac between Goose Creek and the Monocacy; the remaining areas in the basin received no rain. Over the next 48 hours, the National Weather Service indicates a chance of up to 0.1 of an inch of rain in the North Branch, with a possibility of a 0.25 of an inch in the Washington, D.C. area. Over the next 5 days, there is a chance of up to 0.1 of an inch of rain, with most of the central portion of the basin receiving no rain.