12/13/2023
WT Staff
HAPPENING NOW
Little Miami, Raccoon-Symmes watersheds off the drought map
HABs linger in Lake Erie
Up to the minute water news for Wednesday, December 13, 2023 - last updated 457 pm EST
Drinking Water matters
Hiram Village Public Water System is listed on the latest federal EPA significant violator list released. The facility serves a population of 1406 with raw water sourced from three deep wells 155 ft deep into the Sharon sandstone aquifer. The aquifer is rated moderately susceptible to contamination, including from the surface. Hiram Village and wells are physically located in the Mahoning River watershed, a minor tributary of the Upper Ohio River. Turn on the watershed layer to see hazardous materials spills in the vicinity of Hiram Village. See the Safe Drinking Water Act Drinking Water Facility Profile below on Hiram Village for more information.
Streamflow Situation from USGS Waterwatch based on real-time flow monitors across Ohio
Continuing as yesterday, streamflow monitors are recording seasonal normal flows from the Scioto River basin to the east state line. The west side of the state continues below normal to much below normal streamflows registering on both sides of the state divide. No extremes high or low are showing as of this update.
A trend continues with an increasing number of monitors rated much below normal flow Wednesday. By afternoon Wednesday, a sixth monitor has gone much below normal. Massies Creek is the fourth tributary in the Great Miami River basin to drop to the much below normal level. North of the divide in the Lake Erie west basin, the Auglaize River at Fort Jennings and near Defiance are sending much below normal signals. South of the divide, Loramie Creek, Stillwater Creek are much below normal as seen yesterday, with Sevenmile Creek at Camden joining the trend Wednesday morning and Massies Creek added Wednesday afternoon.
Drought situation from USGS Waterwatch 7-day average streamflow compared with historic flow for today's date
Auglaize River watershed holds on to the severe hydrologic drought title another day as the current streamflows dip to much below seasonal normal level. Adjacent watersheds of the Lake Erie west basin remain at the below normal rating, including the Lower Maumee, Blanchard and St Marys River watersheds.
Little Miami River watershed is off the drought map Wednesday, as is Raccoon-Symmes watershed back to normal and off the drought map reducing the remaining area of Ohio rated below normal. Upper Ohio minor tributaries Mahoning River and Shade River watersheds remain below normal.
The height-of-land divide in Ohio runs from Mercer County in the west angling northeast up to Ashtabula County on the east state border. Streamflows north of the divide feed Lake Erie, flows south of the divide run to the Ohio River, part of the Mississippi River basin that drains the majority of interior North America to the Gulf of Mexico.
As the drought conditions shift and change in the Ohio River basin, track the effects south down the Mississippi River into to Louisiana, rated "Exceptional Drought", the highest category on the National Drought map. Visit WTLA.us for more information on downstream effects.
Harmful Algal Bloom update based on the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) satellite monitoring program
A new satellite image has been released by NCCOS, taken December 12 at undetermined surface wind speed. This image is the first completely clear view of Lake Erie since November 30.
Small HABs remain in open water in Maumee Bay, in the inland water of the Metzger Marsh Wildlife Preserve and outside Sandusky Bay in a dispersed band extending to Vermilion River outlet. All HABs appear at the moderate concentration 100 thousand cells per 100 ml or less. See the bluegreen tags on the map for details.
Hazardous Spills Hotline records as reported to OEPA 1-800-282-9378 - update in progress
December 12 spill of an unknown amount of milk reported impacting an unnamed water body in Jackson Township, Stark County. The incident location tag indicates Mudbrook Creek off OH-236 and High Mill Ave NW. Depending on the volume of milk spilled and the flow level in this creek, the effect on the water body can include a reduction of dissolved oxygen and increased stress on aquatic organisms. More to follow.
An unknown amount of unspecified petroleum is reported spilled into East Fork Paint Creek. The incident occurred December 9 off OH-22 near Washington Court House in Fayette County. Update Wednesday afternoon, investigators found no evidence of this spill. The file is closed.
NWS expanding surveillance and reporting network December 14
In a Public Information Statement from the NWS Weather Service in Wilmington, another expansion of the high water river forecast service will be implemented on Dec 14. The USGS North Fork Licking River water monitoring gauge located near Mt Olivet, KY will be added to the NWS high water forecasting set. Action and flood stage levels have been established for the site based on "past impacts and crest history, along with a survey of the affected areas and coordination with emergency officials," according to the NWS statement. The addition of flood categories and coordination with county emergency management personnel is part of an ongoing effort by multiple public and private agencies working together to improve emergency response and planning around floods.
WTOH is tuned in to USGS current streamflow data. For those stations where flood categories are determined, we are able to send flood alerts to local subscribers' mobile devices. To sign up for free SMS water alerts in your local area, see the top of the page link in red WT FREE SMS WATER ALERTS. Note this service is provided for the purpose of alerting subscribers to active water events. WaterToday does not share or sell subscriber information with third parties.
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