Still Dry in the DMV

The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB), through its Section for Cooperative Water Supply Operations on the Potomac (CO-OP), coordinates water supply operations during times of drought and recommends releases of stored water. This operation is to ensure adequate water supplies for Washington metropolitan area water users and for environmental flow levels. As the ICPRB has reported in the July water supply outlook:

The Potomac basin has experienced unusual dryness, despite recent heavy rains bringing some relief and improving stream flows. Low stream flows and low soil moisture content persist. In June, the Potomac basin received 3.4 inches of rain, slightly below the normal amount for the region, but an improvement from the previous month's deficit of 2.4 inches. However, the cumulative deficit over the past 12 months is 6.1 inches. Groundwater levels in monitoring wells remain below average, with ongoing decline in many wells. The ICPRB staff will continue to closely monitor water supply conditions in the basin, focusing on USGS Gage stream flows at Point of Rocks, Maryland, which has a daily water supply monitoring threshold in the cooperative agreement.

from ICPRB

Currently, the water flow in the Potomac River meets the water demands of the Washington metropolitan area, eliminating the need for releases from the reservoirs at this time. The regional reservoirs are in good condition with the Jennings Randolph, Occoquan and  Little Seneca full.

Based on data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the depth to groundwater level (measured in feet) for ten wells used in the ICPRB water supply outlook probability of low flows indicate below normal depths, as can be seen in the comparison plot (graph shown below) of current values and estimated monthly means for June.

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One of the wells in the ICPRB water supply outlook is VA 49V just up the road from my well. It continues its general trend of decline with the annual peak slowly declining, but it has not made a new low for the year yet. That typically happens later in the water year.