5/4/2024
WT Staff
WEEKEND WATER REPORT
Drought expands in the southeast
Little Muskingum, Shade, Raccoon-Symmes watersheds at moderate drought
Water news for Saturday, May 4, 2024 216 pm EDT
WT USA Flows and Flood Tracker provisional data from the network of USGS streamflow monitors
Eighty-four streamflow gauges record flooding in the USA Saturday, down from ninety-three Friday. WT tracks the nation's most common natural disaster dynamics through the states of New York, Ohio, Georgia and Louisiana. As of this report, a new flood event has started in Louisiana, there are currently six active floodings on our radar, all recorded in Louisiana.
Region 4 watershed runs from the west Louisiana border with Texas starting at DeSoto Parish, draining surface area through Sabine, Vernon, Beauregard, Calcasieu and west Cameron, also including west Rapides, west Allen and northwest Jefferson Davis Parishes. This watershed has been on the national flood map for months with Sabine and Calcasieu Rivers flooding on an off since the end of January. Sabine River breached major flood stage for a brief period mid-April. Calcasieu River has breached minor flood stage five times near Glenmora since the end of January. As of this report, Calcasieu River runs a foot and nine inches over minor flood stage near Glenmora, now also flooding at downstream Kinder, since around 730 this morning. Sabine River is also recorded flooding at two stations, near Bon Wier, TX and also near Shreveport, TX. In the northwest LA, watershed Region 1, Bayou Dorcheat and Bayou Bodcau are still flooding near Springhill and Shreveport, respectively.
Current streamflow situation provisional data from USGS streamflow monitors in Ohio
A band of lower than seasonal normal flows runs through the Ohio/Mississippi side of the state drainage divide Saturday. One monitor records extreme low flow Saturday afternoon, Hellbranch Run has been low for several days near Harrisburg. The drought map advanced again overnight with Raccoon-Symmes watershed joining Shade River and Little Muskingum River watersheds at the moderate hydrologic drought rating. Moderate drought has come off the Lake Erie basin overnight. Ashtabula-Chagrin watershed has stepped down from moderate drought to a below normal rating overnight, matching adjacent Black-Rocky, Grand and Cuyahoga Rivers watersheds. Click here for more details.
Note low flows and drought are associated with higher water temperatures, a concentration of nutrients or contaminants and generally higher stress on the aquatic habitat, posing challenges for drinking water facilities and impeding recreational water quality.
Drinking Water Matters
Jefferson County: Mingo Junction came under a 48-hour boil water advisory Wednesday following repair of a water main. The advisory ending Friday impacted connections on Williams Blvd, Jefferson Blvd, Comet Street, Montwell Road, Spruce Street and Tweed Avenue.
Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Monitoring based on satellite images from National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)
The latest image obtained from NCCOS is a nice clear view of the west basin Lake Erie snapped May 2 at a surface wind speed of 11.1 mph. There is no sign of HAB activity in this image. Click here for more information on Lake Erie HABs spotted in April.
As many drinking water facilities are supplied from surface water reservoirs, the streamflow situation is pertinent to both drinking water supply and quality. High flows can stir up sediment and cause turbidity in the reservoirs, requiring additional treatments to render the water potable. Low flow volume is linked to warmer temperatures in the reservoir and can be an issue for water quality where HABs are present. WT tracks streamflow trends with an eye to the impacts on drinking water supply and quality in each of the state's watersheds. Check the watershed layer on the map to see the direction of flow and streamflows that may be impacting drinking water today.
USGS Provisional Data Statement
Data are provisional and subject to revision until they have been thoroughly reviewed and received final approval. Current condition data relayed by satellite or other telemetry are automatically screened to not display improbable values until they can be verified.
Provisional data may be inaccurate due to instrument malfunctions or physical changes at the measurement site. Subsequent review based on field inspections and measurements may result in significant revisions to the data.
Data users are cautioned to consider carefully the provisional nature of the information before using it for decisions that concern personal or public safety or the conduct of business that involves substantial monetary or operational consequences. Information concerning the accuracy and appropriate uses of these data or concerning other hydrologic data may be obtained from the USGS.
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