WATER WATCH

Connecticut Drought Monitor

 

“Drought is more than a physical phenomenon or natural event. Its impact results from the relationship between a natural event and demands on the water supply, and it is often exacerbated by human activities.”-2012,WPCAG Drought Workgroup report to the CT Water Planning Council.

Real Time Stream Flow Data- Pomperaug

 

Stream flows in the Pomperaug River watershed are recorded by the .S. Geological Survey (USGS) auging stations on the Pomperaug, Nonnewaug, and Weekeepeemee Rivers.

 

These gauging stations provide real-time flow data that can be accessed via the USGS website.

 

Real Time Stream Flow Data- Nonnewaug


The USGS stream-gauging program provides streamflow data for a variety of purposes that range from current needs, such as flood forecasting, to future or long-term needs, such as detection of changes in streamflow due to human activities or global warming.

 

From the establishment of the first stream-gauging station operated by the USGS in 1889, this program has grown to include 7,000 stations in operation as of 1996.

Real Time Stream Flow Data- Weekeepeemee


Data from the active stations, as well as from discontinued stations, are stored in a computer data base that currently holds mean daily-discharge data for about

18,500 locations and more than 400,000 station-years of record, or more than 146 million individual mean daily-discharge values.

 

Additional data are added to the data base each year.

Groundwater Data- Southbury, CT


The stream-discharge data base is an ever-growing resource for water-resources planning and design, hydrologic research, and operation of water-resources projects.

 

Additional years of record provide ever-improving accuracy of estimates of streamflow characteristics, such as the magnitude of extreme infrequent floods or low flows, and an opportunity to determine how streamflow characteristics are changing over time due to such causes as agricultural practices, urbanization, ground-water development, or climate change.

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The Water Watchers webinar introduces data collection and tools used by PRWC. Carol Haskins, Executive Director, introduces the audience to the U.S. Drought Monitor, Real Time Stream Flow, Groundwater and Precipitation Data, and an Interactive Stream Assessments Map, as well as how the data is shared with the community.

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Access the pdf or webinar recording here.