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USGS Water-Year Summary 2024
01589035 PATAPSCO RIVER NEAR ELKRIDGE, MD
LOCATION - Lat 39°13'38.4", long 76°43'22.8" referenced to North American Datum of 1983, Baltimore County, MD, Hydrologic Unit 02060003, on left bank 50 ft upstream from bridge on Gun Road, in Patapsco Valley State Park, 0.9 mi northwest of Elkridge, 1.3 mi southwest of Halethorpe, and 4.5 mi east of Columbia.
DRAINAGE AREA - 312 mi². from automated delineation using 30-meter National Elevation Dataset, digital elevation model data, dated 2006.
REVISIONS HISTORY -
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/01589035/#parameterCode=00065&startDT=2019-10-02&endDT=2021-10-13: 2019-2021. The gage heights of measurements 188, 189, 196, 200, 202, 203, 206, 209, 211, 213, 214, 216, and 217 were revised on February 8, 2023 as a result of this gage height revision.
SURFACE-WATER RECORDS
PERIOD OF RECORD - October 2010 to current year.
GAGE - Water-stage recorder and crest-stage gage. Datum of gage is 8.50 ft above North American Vertical Datum of 1988.
REMARKS - Water Years 2022-2023: Records fair, except those for estimated discharges, which are poor.
Water Year 2021: Records fair. No estimated discharges.
Water Years 2017-2020: Records fair, except those for estimated discharges, which are poor.
Water Years 2015-2016: Records fair, except those for estimated daily discharges, which are poor.
Water Year 2014: Records good, except those for estimated daily discharges, which are poor.
Water Year 2013 and prior years’ accuracy statements can be found in Annual Water Data Reports.
Flow regulated by Liberty Reservoir, approximately 21 mi upstream, beginning July 22, 1954, usable capacity, 42,070,000,000 gal; dead storage, 1,260,000,000 gal. Diversions upstream from station for municipal supply of Westminster (sewage effluent discharged into Little Pipe Creek), and from Liberty Reservoir beginning February 26, 1953, for municipal supply of Baltimore, and beginning February 1970 for a small municipal supply for part of Carroll County. U.S. Geological Survey satellite data-collection platform at station until August 14, 2018. U.S. Geological Survey water-data telemeter at station, August 14, 2018 to current year.
Flow regulated by Liberty Reservoir, approximately 21 mi upstream, beginning July 22, 1954, usable capacity, 42,070,000,000 gal; dead storage, 1,260,000,000 gal. Diversions upstream from station for municipal supply of Westminster (sewage effluent discharged into Little Pipe Creek), and from Liberty Reservoir beginning February 26, 1953, for municipal supply of Baltimore, and beginning February 1970 for a small municipal supply for part of Carroll County. U.S. Geological Survey satellite data-collection platform at station until August 14, 2018. U.S. Geological Survey water-data telemeter at station, August 14, 2018 to current year.
EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD - Maximum discharge, 26,900 ft³/s, May 27, 2018, gage height, 24.76 ft; minimum discharge, 35.0 ft³/s (estimated), Sept. 16, 17, 2012.
WATER-QUALITY RECORDS
PERIOD OF RECORD - October 2010 to October 2021.
PERIOD OF DAILY RECORD - TURBIDITY: October 2010 to October 2021.
SEDIMENT CONCENTRATION: October 2010 to October 2021.
SEDIMENT LOAD: October 2010 to October 2021.
INSTRUMENTATION - Water-quality monitor and automatic sampler, October 2010 to current year.
On 03/14/19, the primary turbidity sensor was moved to a higher mount location in the water column in order to prevent sedimentation during ongoing stream restoration. A new timeseries was created in order to differentiate data collected at this new elevated location within the channel from data that was collected from the lower mount dating back to the beginning of this record. On 06/05/19 the turbidity sensor was moved back to its original lower mount location due to drought conditions, and data collection resumed within the original timeseries.
On 03/14/19, the primary turbidity sensor was moved to a higher mount location in the water column in order to prevent sedimentation during ongoing stream restoration. A new timeseries was created in order to differentiate data collected at this new elevated location within the channel from data that was collected from the lower mount dating back to the beginning of this record. On 06/05/19 the turbidity sensor was moved back to its original lower mount location due to drought conditions, and data collection resumed within the original timeseries.
REMARKS - Sediment discharge loads and concentrations were estimated for days of estimated daily discharges. Turbidity values greater than 1,600 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) exceed the instrument calibration range. Values are included in the record but are presumed to have lower precision. Turbidity values that were determined to be a result of debris on the sensor, a function of incident sun angle, or other phenomena that did not appear to be correlated to suspended-sediment concentration were removed by the hydrographer. Extended periods of missing data are due to equipment malfunctions.
EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF DAILY RECORD - TURBIDITY (Lower Mount): Maximum 2,100 NTU, November 01, 2019; minimum 0.0 NTU, on several days.
TURBIDITY (Upper Mount): Maximum 1,590 NTU, September 11, 2018; minimum 0.0 NTU, on several days.
SEDIMENT CONCENTRATION: Maximum daily mean, 2,170 mg/L, January 31, 2013; minimum daily mean, 0.1 mg/L, September 14, 2015.
SEDIMENT LOAD: Maximum daily 55,400 tons, January 31, 2013; minimum daily 0.00 tons, September 14, 2015.
TURBIDITY (Upper Mount): Maximum 1,590 NTU, September 11, 2018; minimum 0.0 NTU, on several days.
SEDIMENT CONCENTRATION: Maximum daily mean, 2,170 mg/L, January 31, 2013; minimum daily mean, 0.1 mg/L, September 14, 2015.
SEDIMENT LOAD: Maximum daily 55,400 tons, January 31, 2013; minimum daily 0.00 tons, September 14, 2015.
