12/29/2023
WT Staff
HAPPENING NOW
Little Miami River watershed off the drought map
Scioto River tributary shifts out of moderate drought
Up to the minute water news for Friday, December 29, 2023 - last updated 642 pm EST
Streamflow Situation from USGS Waterwatch based on real-time flow monitors across Ohio
Normal to above normal flows dominate central and west Ohio today with four stations reporting flows much above normal. In the Great Miami River basin south of the state divide, flows remain below normal with one tributary flow much below normal.
There are no USGS gauges reporting extreme low or high flow values Friday.
Drought situation from USGS Waterwatch 7-day average streamflow compared with historic flow for today's date
Little Miami River watershed makes it up and away clear of the drought map in time for the weekend, leaving Great Miami River basin Upper and Lower in the below normal category. Streamflows in the west persist in a below normal pattern with two stations falling much below normal by Friday evening, hence the continued below normal 7-day average we are seeing on the drought map.
Lake Erie west basin has only the Auglaize River watershed remaining on the drought map Friday night, rated below normal. Ohio River minor tributaries have one spot left on the drought map, Raccoon-Symmes at below normal. Scioto River leaves Tygarts watershed on the map at 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
NCCOS latest image upload is the December 26 capture taken with unknown wind speed. The image is mostly cloud obscured, one hole in the cloud over Lake Erie reveals clear water with no HAB activity detected around the international border midlake. >br>
The latest clear view of Lake Erie was taken Dec 20, showing a spectacular band of HABs approximately four miles wide and moderate concentration 100 to 200 thousand cells per 100 ml. Cloud cover prevents us from visualizing the HAB today, however we expect to see the HAB again when the clouds break. More to follow. See the bluegreen tags on the map for an interpretation of the HAB activity of Dec 20.
Drinking Water matters
Barnesville issued a BWA yesterday in order to make water line repairs for all service connections on East Main Street between Henderson Street and Warren Avenue. Any other locations experiencing a loss in pressure yesterday should also be boiling water until further notice.
East Palestine has issued a BWA following a water main break and service outage on Decmber 26. The BWA applies to customers on South Market Street from 183 South Market going South to the Threshold property including Short, Young, and Oak Street.
Nelsonville issued a BWA following work to connect a new water main to Murray Drive yesterday. The precautionary boil order is in effect until 3 p.m. tomorrow, Friday December 29.
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