SUMMARY OF HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS
FOR THE
UPPER DELAWARE RIVER BASIN
February 2000

Prepared by the
Office of the Delaware River Master
Milford, Pennsylvania

Adjusted streamflow in the upper Delaware River basin during February was excessive. The maximum daily discharge of 30,200 cfs occurred on February 29. The minimum daily discharge was 2,740 cfs on February 13.

On the basis of a 5-station average, precipitation during February was 3.07 inches, which was 116 percent of the 59-year average. The maximum daily-average precipitation during February was 0.89 inches on February 14. Precipitation in the upper Delaware River Basin during the past 12 months was 2.88 inches less than the long-term average. Precipitation during February was 0.43 inches more than the long-term average for the month.

The monthly mean streamflow of the Delaware River at Montague, N.J. during February was 6,901 cfs (observed), which was 126 percent of the median. The flow at Montague, adjusted for diversions from the basin and change in storage in the major reservoirs was 9,960 cfs, or 155 percent of median (water years 1961-90).

Storage March 1, 2000, in Pepacton, Cannonsville and Neversink Reservoirs was 81.7 percent of capacity above the point of maximum depletion. The combined storage of 221 billion gallons was 34 billion gallons greater than that of one month ago and was 39 billion gallons more than that of one year ago. Median storage on the first day of March in 32 years of record is 220 billion gallons. Cannonsville Reservoir filled to capacity and began spilling on February 29, 2000.

As part of a statewide network, the USGS operates 14 observation wells in the Pennsylvania part of the Delaware River Basin. Mean water levels during February were below average in 11 of the wells. Water levels in most observation wells were trending downward in comparison to January levels.

HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS IN THE UPPER DELAWARE RIVER BASIN
Compiled by the Office of the Delaware River Master, Milford, Pa.
(Preliminary data - subject to revision)
PRECIPITATION, IN INCHES

 

Dec. 1940 to Feb. 1999

March 1999 to February 2000

 

Average

Actual

Percent of average

Excess (+) or deficit (-)

 

Amount

Cumulative

Amount

Cumulative

By month

Cumulative

By month

Cumulative

Mar.

 3.30 43.24 4.40 40.36 133 93 +1.10 -2.88

Apr.

 3.78 39.94 2.29 35.96 61 90 -1.49 -3.98

May

 4.19 36.16 3.32 33.67 79 93 -.87 -2.49

June

 3.94 31.97 2.28 30.35 58 95 -1.66 -1.62

July

 4.12 28.03 2.34 28,07 57 100 -1.78 +.04

Aug.

 3.87 23.91 *3.00 25.73 78 108 -.87 +1.82

Sept.

 3.74 20.04 *9.11 22.73 244 113 +5.37 +2.69

Oct.

 3.40 16.30 2.72 13.62 80 84 -.68 -2.68

Nov.

 3.87 12.90 2.98 10.90 77 84 -.89 -2.00

Dec.

 3.37 9.03 1.63 7.92 48 88 -1.74 -1.11

Jan.

 3.02 5.66 3.22 6.29 107 111 +.20 +.63

Feb.

 2.64 2.64 3.07 3.07 116 116 +.43 +.43

 Note: Amount shown in cumulative columns is total from month shown to present.

* Revised since previous month

 

STREAMFLOW, IN CFS

DELAWARE RIVER AT MONTAGUE, N.J.

Month

1940-98

 

Percent of

Maximum

Median

Minimum

Monthly mean

median

February (observed)

 15,120 (1976) 5,456 1,748 (1980) 6,901 126

 February (adjusted)

 20,330  (1981) 5,610 1,373 (1980) 9,960 178

 

              

March (observed)

 29,480  (1945) 9,168 3,191 (1981)    

 March (adjusted)

 25,910 (1945) 11,220 4,428 (1981)