JULY 2005 WATER-CONDITIONS STATEMENT

Groundwater levels at the end of July 2005 were generally above normal (highest 25 percent of levels for July) in central and eastern Massachusetts, including Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket Island. Water levels in the rest of Massachusetts and in Rhode Island were generally normal (between highest and lowest 25 percent of levels for July). Groundwater-level measurements for 12 wells in Rhode Island were not available at the time of the monthly report production. Please refer to the July Groundwater Conditions map for individual well conditions and other information.

New high groundwater levels for the month of July were measured in five wells in Massachusetts. The measured groundwater level in the Truro 1 well was the highest July level since well measurements began in 1950. No new low groundwater levels for the month of July were measured in any wells in Massachusetts or Rhode Island. No new high or low groundwater levels for the periods of record were measured in any wells in Massachusetts or Rhode Island. This assessment is based on the evaluation of 116 wells with 10 or more years of record. The data sources for variables OWc, OWmax, and OWr, which are used in conjunction with USGS Open-File Report 80-1205 to estimate high groundwater levels at sites in Massachusetts, are identified on the Groundwater-Data Web page.

Surface-water flows at the end of July 2005 were generally above normal (highest 25 percent of flows for July) in north-central and south-coastal Massachusetts. Flows were generally normal (between highest and lowest 25 percent of flows for July) in the rest of Massachusetts and all of Rhode Island. No new minimum or maximum monthly mean discharges were recorded at any stream gaging stations in Massachusetts or Rhode Island. This assessment is based on monthly flow statistics (30-year period from 1971 to 2000) from 22 near-real-time stations with 30 or more years of record. No surface-water-flow data are available for Cape Cod. Please refer to the July Surface-Water Conditions map for more information.

Reservoir Conditions

Borden Brook/Cobble Mountain, Quabbin, and Scituate (Rhode Island) Reservoirs were 74-, 96-, and 89-percent full, respectively, at the end of July. In comparison, these reservoirs were 83-, 98-, and 100-percent full, respectively, at the end of June. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Water Supply Protection, provides reservoir figures for Borden Brook/Cobble Mountain Reservoirs and Quabbin Reservoir. The Providence Water Supply Board provides reservoir figures for Scituate Reservoir.

Last modified: October 6, 2008

URL: http://ma.water.usgs.gov/water_const/water_conditions_200507.htm

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