Afternoon Potomac flow and demand update (Monday, 2023-09-04)
Little precipitation is expected in the Potomac basin over the next several days according to National Weather Service forecasts.
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.
Morning Potomac flow and demand update (Monday, 2023-09-04)
According to Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center predictions, a trace of rainfall is expected in the basin over the next 3 days. The week-long outlook points to an approximate total of 0.02 inches across the basin.
Afternoon Potomac flow and demand update (Sunday, 2023-09-03)
River flows at Little Falls have been relatively steady over the past day.
The proactive voluntary load shift from Great Falls to Little Falls by Washington Aqueduct is still ongoing.
Morning Potomac flow and demand update (Sunday, 2023-09-03)
No rain fell in the basin in the past 24 hours. According to Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center predictions, no rain is expected in the next 72 hours. The week-long outlook points to an approximate total of 0.1 inches across the basin.
The proactive voluntary load shift from Great Falls to Little Falls by Washington Aqueduct is still ongoing.
Recent basin-wide average precipitation (above Little Falls):
Afternoon Potomac flow and demand update (Friday, 2023-09-01)
ICPRB CO-OP enhanced drought monitoring will continue throughout the holiday weekend. Please continue to review the accuracy of the data in your automated emails, verify that the file includes all requested data, and email any additional data to coop@icprb.org. Thank you for your continued cooperation through the holiday weekend.
Best,
ICPRB CO-OP Drought Team
Afternoon Potomac flow and demand update (Thursday, 2023-08-31)
River Flows at Little Falls continue to decline and are currently at 587 cfs.
Washington Aqueduct’s voluntary load shift from Great Falls to Little Falls is still ongoing.
Morning Potomac flow and demand update (Thursday, 2023-08-31)
No appreciable amount of rain fell in the basin in the past 24 hours. River flows at Little Falls have slowly decreased and are currently at around 600 cfs. Whitewater releases from Jennings Randolph Reservoir were held on August 26 and 27 and may temporarily improve flow levels.
According to Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center predictions, no rain is expected in the next 72 hours.
The proactive voluntary load shift from Great Falls to Little Falls by Washington Aqueduct is still ongoing.
Afternoon Potomac flow and demand update (Wednesday, 2023-08-30)
Current river flow at Little Falls is about 728 cfs (471 MGD) and has remained above 700 cfs for the past 12 hours.
Daily flows:
Little Falls gage flow 2023-08-29: 408 MGD (632 cfs)
Little Falls gage flow 2023-08-30: 471 MGD (est., based on recently available real-time data) (728 cfs)
Note: Gage flow at Little Falls is measured after water supply withdrawals.
Morning Potomac flow and demand update (Wednesday, 2023-08-30)
According to National Weather Service predictions, no rainfall is expected over the next 7 days.
At 3 P.M. yesterday, Washington Aqueduct initiated a proactive load shift of 65 MGD to the Little Falls intake to increase Potomac flow between Great Falls and Little Falls. The recently observed, significant flow fluctuations at Point of Rocks related to hydroelectric dam operations have stabilized. We believe that hydro-dam impacts on flow at Little Flows will not be significant over the next few days.
Afternoon Potomac flow and demand update (Wednesday, 2023-08-30)
Current river flow at Little Falls is about 728 cfs (471 MGD) and has remained above 700 cfs for the past 12 hours.