April 2009 Water-Conditions Statement:

Surface-Water Groundwater Reservoir Special Note

Surface-Water Conditions

Streamflows in April 2009 were generally designated as normal (the monthly average streamflow is between the 25th and 75th percent of the monthly average streamflows for this same month) in all river basins in Massachusetts and in Rhode Island. The exceptions were the Farmington, Housatonic, and Westfield River Basins in southwestern Massachusetts, where streamflow were generally designated as below normal (the monthly average streamflow is between the 24th and 10th percent of the monthly average streamflows for this same month). This assessment is based on the USGS WaterWatch Current water resources conditions map of monthly-average streamflow for the month of year for 60 near real-time streamflow-gaging stations with 30 or more years of record in Massachusetts (figure 1) and 15 near-real-time streamflow-gaging stations with 30 or more years of record in Rhode Island (figure 2). General surface-water conditions in Massachusetts and Rhode Island by State-designated drought regions are shown in the table 1 and table 2. Surface-water conditions for individual streamflow-gaging stations may differ from conditions shown for a region in tables 1 and 2.

Duration hydrographs that show general streamflow trends over the past two years for selected streamflow-gaging stations with 20 or more years of record are shown in each of the six Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (MA EOEEA) and Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Drought Regions. Each region includes one to five streamflow-gaging stations.

Cape and Islands

Southeastern

Northeastern

Central

Connecticut

Western

Duration hydrographs that show general streamflow trends over the past two years for selected streamflow-gaging stations with 20 or more years of record are shown in five of seven Rhode Island Water Resources Board (RIWRB) Drought Regions. Each of the five regions includes one to four streamflow-gaging stations. No streamflow-gaging stations are operated in the Eastern and New Shoreham regions.

Northwest

Northeast

Central West

Central East

Southern

Groundwater Conditions

Groundwater levels at the end of April 2009 were generally designated as normal (the monthly groundwater level is between the 25th and 75th percent of the monthly water levels for this same month) in most of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The exceptions were the Northeast and Central East Regions of Rhode Island, where groundwater levels were generally designated as above normal (the monthly groundwater level is between the 76th and 90th percent of the monthly water levels for this same month). This assessment is based on the USGS Groundwater Watch Climate Response Network for 89 wells in Massachusetts (Figure 3) and 37 wells in Rhode Island (Figure 4). General groundwater conditions in Massachusetts and Rhode Island by State- designated drought regions are shown in table 1 and table 2. Groundwater conditions for individual wells may differ from conditions shown for a region in tables 1 and 2.

For users of USGS Open-File Report 80-1205, Probable High Groundwater Levels in Massachusetts, the OWc value is shown in the "Most Recent Measurement" column in the Climate Response Network. To obtain topographic setting, lithology, OWr and OWmax values for estimating depth to probable high groundwater level, select Well Characteristics on the Groundwater-Data Web page.

Hydrographs that show general groundwater- level trends over the last year and for the period of record for selected groundwater-monitoring stations in each of the six Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (MA EOEEA) and Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Drought Management Task Force Regions are provided. Each region includes one to five groundwater monitoring stations.

Cape and Islands

Southeastern

Northeastern

Central

Connecticut

Western

Hydrographs that show general groundwater- level trends over the last year and for the period of record for selected groundwater-monitoring stations in each of the seven Rhode Island Water Resources Board (RIWRB) Drought Regions are provided. Each region includes one to five near-real-time groundwater monitoring stations.

Northwest

Northeast

Central West

Central East

Southern

Eastern

New Shoreham

Reservoir Conditions

Borden Brook/Cobble Mountain, Quabbin and Scituate Reservoirs were 96-, 100-, and 104-percent full, respectively, at the end of April 2009. In comparison, Borden Brook/Cobble Mountain, Quabbin, and Scituate Reservoirs were 91-, 101-, and 104-percent full, respectively, at the end of March 2008.

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.

Special Note

Starting in September 2008, the monthly hydrologic-conditions report for Massachusetts and Rhode Island is changing formats to optimize use of USGS real-time surface-water and groundwater data and database-generated maps and graphs. The new format includes extensive use of USGS National Water Information System: Web Interface (NWISWeb) databases to display and provide data from which monthly surface-water and groundwater conditions are determined.

Monthly surface-water conditions and supporting data are provided by the USGS NWISWeb. The includes pages such as the WaterWatch Current Water Resources Conditions maps, real-time streamflow data, duration hydrographs (28-day average streamflow), and other data for streamflow-gaging stations across the United States. Maps of monthly surface-water conditions for Massachusetts and Rhode Island are shown for the individual states rather than on a single map, as in the previous report format.

Monthly groundwater conditions and supporting data are provided by the USGS Climate Response Network from NWISWeb. The Climate Response Network displays real-time and monthly groundwater-level measurements, provides maps of groundwater-level conditions and hydrographs from which areal conditions are determined, and provides access to USGS databases with user-selectable time periods and graphical or tabular data-display methods. Maps of monthly groundwater conditions for Massachusetts and Rhode Island are shown for the individual states rather than on a single map, as in the previous report format.

The monthly water-conditions statement describing groundwater and surface-water conditions and reservoir contents at three reservoirs in Massachusetts and Rhode Island will continue to be published.