On July 5, ICPRB’s Section for Cooperative Water Supply Operations on the Potomac (CO-OP) resumed daily Drought Monitoring. The threshold to begin Drought Monitoring is when the river’s flow at the USGS Gage at Point of Rocks dips below 2,000 cubic feet per second (cfs).
The July Water Supply Outlook suggests we might be headed for a dry summer. Streamflow is currently below normal, and groundwater levels are below normal. This monthly report provides an update on the possibility of water supply releases from the area’s reservoirs based on long-term precipitation data, flows, and other information for the Potomac basin.
Drought in the Potomac River watershed:
- 52% in moderate drought conditions
- 38% in severe drought conditions
The report states drought is likely to persist in the Potomac Basin over the coming months.
Currently, there is sufficient water to meet our demands. If low-flow conditions further develop, we are protected from a water supply shortage owing to carefully designed drought-contingency plans.