Annual and seasonal trends in discharge of National Capital Region streams
Schmit JP. 2011. Annual and seasonal trends in discharge of National Capital Region streams. Natural Resource Technical Report: Northeast Region. NPS/NCRN/NRTR—2011/488. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
The following report examines long term precipitation and stream discharge data relevant to the parks of the National Capital Region Network (NCRN). Precipitation and stream flow data has been compiled from public agencies. Precipitation data covers all of the parks in the NCRN, but streamflow data is not available for Catoctin, Manassas or Wolf Trap. The analysis shows that there has been a long term increase in fall precipitation in the NCRN. Based on this observation, it would be expected that stream discharge would also be increasing in the fall months. In the more rural areas of the region, this prediction was borne out. However, in urban areas, and in areas where the streams are used for hydropower and municipal water, it is not. In urban areas, seasonal trends are muted, but discharge rates are becoming more variable, with higher highs and lower lows. In areas where water is diverted for municipal or hydroelectric use, there was no trend in discharge. An important conclusion from this report is that human alteration of the environment can interact with climate changes to determine trends in discharge. Streams that are geographically close, but have differing land use in their watersheds, may have very different trends in stream discharge.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Schmit, John
- Date of Issue
- 2011-09
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- ANTI , CATO , CHOH , GWMP , HAFE , MANA , MONO , NACE , NCRN , NCRO , PRWI , ROCR , WOTR
- Keywords
- Climate Change, Discharge, Flow, NCRN Air Monitor, Precipitation, Rainfall, sesonal, stream gage, stream gauge, Streams, Water Quality Monitor