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.

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Monday, 2023-10-09)

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 10/09/2023 - 12:50

Situational Awareness (Monday, 2023-10-09)
The Potomac River watershed above Little Falls received about a ½ inch of rain during the past three days, and as a result river flows have increased slightly. The precipitation outlook for the next seven days is promising – about an inch of rain is expected.

Recent basin-wide average precipitation (above Little Falls):

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Saturday, 2023-10-07)

Submitted by admin1 on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 11:59

Situational awareness (Saturday, 2023-10-07)

River flows at the Little Falls gage continue to decline. Flows at the Point of Rocks gage show an overall downward trend, though marked inter-daily fluctuations are present. A field measurement was conducted at the Point of Rocks gage by the USGS on October 4.  

According to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center predictions, 0.3 inches of rain are expected over the next 24 hours.

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Thursday, 2023-10-05)

Submitted by snummer on Thu, 10/05/2023 - 11:57

Situational Awareness (Thursday, 2023-10-05)
River flows at Point of Rocks continue to stay below the CO-OP daily monitoring threshold of 2000 cfs. According to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center no appreciable rainfall has occurred in the basin over the past 24 hours. The outlook for the 3 days expects a total of approximately 0.2 inches of rainfall. 

Reinitiating CO-OP Daily Drought Monitoring and Reporting - Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Wednesday, 2023-10-04)

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 10/04/2023 - 11:57

Situational Awareness (Wednesday, 2023-10-04)
CO-OP is reinitiating daily drought monitoring and reporting today because Potomac River flow at the US Geological Survey’s stream gage at Point of Rocks, Maryland, is below 2000 cubic feet per second (cfs), CO-OP's daily monitoring threshold. According to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center predictions, no rainfall is expected in the basin over the next three days. The week-long outlook expects a total of approximately 0.2 inches of rain.

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Saturday, 2023-09-23)

Submitted by admin1 on Sat, 09/23/2023 - 12:20

Situational Awareness (Saturday, 2023-09-23):
The U.S. Geological Survey gage at Point of Rocks reports current flow at 1600 cfs (1034 MGD) and shows an upward trend. Projections from the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center (MARFC) predict 0.8 inches of rainfall in the next 24 hours. Over the next three days, an average basin rainfall of 1.7 inches is anticipated, with a weeklong total forecasted to reach approximately 2 inches.

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Friday, 2023-09-22)

Submitted by snummer on Fri, 09/22/2023 - 12:22

Situational Awareness (Friday, 2023-09-22)
River flows at Point of Rocks have fallen below 2000 cfs over the past 24 hours. According to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center predictions, the next 3 days may see 1.6 inches of rain. The week-long outlook expects a total of approximately 2.2 inches of rain in the basin.