Below normal rainfall in much of New Hampshire and Vermont over the past several months has resulted in record low river levels according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Record low streamflows for the month of August occurred across the northern areas of both States, primarily in the St. Lawrence, Upper Connecticut, and Saco River Basins. In New Hampshire, August low-flow records were broken on the Ammonoosuc, Upper Ammonoosuc and Saco Rivers. In Vermont, record low August flows were measured on the Winooski, Lamoille, Dog, Passumpsic, and Lamoille Rivers.

River	August 2001 Mean Monthly Streamflow, in cubic feet per second	Previous August Mean Monthly Streamflow record, in cubic feet per second	Previous year of August record
New Hampshire Amonoosuc Upper Ammonoosuc Saco	27 57 121	34 78.4 129	1961 1975 1936
Vermont Winooski Lamoille at E. Georgia Dog Passumpsic Lamoille at Johnson	182 181 8.5 106 70.7	225 198 8.6 122 77.6	1934 1934 1965 1934 1999

"Streamflows are now below normal at over 95% of our long-term stream-gaging stations in the two-state region," says Brian R. Mrazik, Chief of USGS's New Hampshire-Vermont District Office in Pembroke, New Hampshire. Of the 83 USGS gaging stations in the region, flows are less than one-third of normal at 41, and less than one-quarter of normal at 22. "At 34 of the gages, flows are below minimum levels observed for 7 consecutive days, on average, once in 10 years," Mrazik said. Rain predicted for Friday will provide some relief, especially for small streams, but several inches of rain will be needed to restore rivers to normal flows.

In New Hampshire, flows are currently lowest in the Upper Merrimack, Saco, and Upper Connecticut River basins, particularly on the Pemigewasset, Contoocook, Baker, Smith, Saco, Bearcamp, Mohawk, Upper Ammonoosuc, Ammonoosuc, and Mascoma Rivers.

In Vermont, flows are lowest in the Lake Champlain and Upper Connecticut basins, particularly in the Missiquoi, Lamoille, Winooski, Otter Creek, Passumpsic, Wells, and White River basins.

Ground-water levels

Ground-water levels at the end of August were also below normal throughout the central and northern parts of the two-State area.

Current streamflow levels in New Hampshire and Vermont are available on the web at http://nh.water.usgs.gov . Monthly summaries of ground-water levels in New Hampshire and Vermont are available on the web at http://nh.water.usgs.gov/WaterData/curr.htm .

 

The USGS serves the nation by providing reliable scientific information to: describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life.

 

***USGS***

 

General Contact:

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

 

Technical Contact:

Brian Mrazik, (603) 226-7807, bmrazik@usgs.gov

Address:

New Hampshire/Vermont District
361 Commerce Way
Pembroke, NH 03275