March 2008 Water-Conditions Statement

Surface-Water Conditions

Surface-water flows at the end of March 2007 were generally above normal (highest 25 percent of flows for March) in Massachusetts and northern Rhode Island. Flows were generally normal (between lowest and highest 25 percent of flows for March) in southern Rhode Island and in small basins in eastern Massachusetts. This assessment is based on monthly flow statistics (30-year period from 1971 to 2000) for 46 near-real-time streamflow-gaging stations with 30 or more years of record. No record-high or record-low monthly mean discharges were recorded during the month of March. No surface-water-flow data are available for Cape Cod.

All data are provisional and subject to revisions. Please refer to the Surface-Water Conditions map for more information.

Ground-Water Conditions

Ground-water levels were generally above normal (highest 25 percent of levels for March) in central and western Massachusetts. Ground-water levels were generally normal (between highest and lowest 25 percent of levels for March) in southeastern Massachusetts, including Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. Ground-water levels were also generally normal in Rhode Island. Please refer to the March Ground-Water Conditions map for conditions of individual wells and other information.

A new historical high ground-water level was measured in the Orange 63 well in Massachusetts (highest since measurements started in 1985). New record-high ground-water levels for the month of March were measured in seven wells in Massachusetts. New record-low ground-water levels for the month of March were measured in three wells in Rhode Island. No other record-high or record-low ground-water levels were measured during the month of March.

This assessment is based on the evaluation of 120 wells with 10 or more years of record. The data sources for variables OWc (monthly well reading), OWmax (historical high water level for period of well record), and OWr (maximum annual range for period of well record), which are used in conjunction with USGS Open-File Report 80-1205 to estimate high ground-water levels at sites in Massachusetts, are identified on the Well Characteristics Web page of the Ground-Water-Data Web page.

Reservoir Conditions

Borden Brook/Cobble Mountain, Quabbin and Scituate Reservoirs were 93-, 98-, and 104-percent full, respectively, at the end of March. In comparison, Borden Brook/Cobble Mountain, Quabbin, and Scituate Reservoirs were 86-, 94- and 92-percent full, respectively, at the end of February.

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.