Streamflow Below Normal in State Rivers

Streamflow in central New Hampshire and Vermont is generally below normal, a situation that has been growing worse since mid-July according to the U.S. Geological Survey. "At many stream-gaging stations in the area, flows are between 25 and 35 percent of their normal range for this time of year" said Ken Toppin, Chief of the Surface Water Section of the USGS District Office in Pembroke, NH. "Out of 50 streams and rivers that we monitor on a long-term basis, 34 have flows less than half of normal for this time of year, and 15 have flows that are less than one-third of normal" said Toppin. In 14 streams, flows are below the weekly amounts that occur only once on the average every 10 years. According to Toppin, the lowest streamflows are occurring primarily in the Pemigewasset, Merrimack, middle Connecticut, Lamoille and Winooski River Basins. The table below summarizes flows at some of the USGS gages on large rivers in these basins. For more information, visit the USGS real-time streamflow Web sites at http://water.usgs.gov/nh/nwis and http://water.usgs.gov/vt/nwis .

As the nation's largest water, earth and biological science and civilian mapping agency, the USGS works in cooperation with more than 2,000 organizations across the country to provide reliable, impartial, scientific information to resource managers, planners, and other customers. This information is gathered in every state by USGS scientists to minimize the loss of life and property from natural disasters, contribute to the sound conservation, economic and physical development of the nation's natural resources, and enhance the quality of life by monitoring water, biological, energy, and mineral resources.

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 Address:

New Hampshire/Vermont District

361 Commerce Way

Pembroke, NH 03275

Contact:

General:

Debra Foster, (603) 226-7837
dhfoster@usgs.gov

Technical:

Ken Toppin, (603) 226-7808
ktoppin@usgs.gov

In-depth information about USGS programs may be found on the USGS home page: http://www.usgs.gov or http://water.usgs.gov.