The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is closely monitoring the track of Hurricane Delta which is poised to make landfall on U.S. shores on Saturday of this weekend.  Recent forecasts show the remnants tracking up through the Susquehanna basin. 

Widespread rainfall that could result from the storm would bring streamflows up and may serve to ease the current drought declarations in place in the Pennsylvania and New York portions of the Susquehanna basin.

Along with its state and federal partners, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission continually monitors hydrologic conditions across the river basin for the onset of potential drought conditions.

This past summer has been particularly active as much of the western half of the river basin has been dry while the eastern portion has been wet. 

As the calendar turns to the autumn months, the dryness that has gripped the western half of the basin appears to be expanding across the entire basin. 

Rainfall over the past 30 days is greater than 50 percent below normal for most of the region, with Lancaster County the only exception.  More information on county precipitation departures is available at the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center website.

Low Flow Release Authorized 

With rainfall deficits come low streamflow. In response to exceptionally low streamflow in the New York portion of the basin, the Commission recently initiated a low flow augmentation release from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s Whitney Point Reservoir in Chenango County, N.Y. 

The release of water from the reservoir to supplement streamflow for instream needs represents only the second time in more than 10 years of low flow operations at Whitney Point that a release of supplemental water has occurred.

The Commission is monitoring the need for initiation of similar actions in the Pennsylvania counties of Clearfield, Montour and Tioga as well.

Click Here to follow the track of Hurricane Delta.

For more information on programs, training opportunities and upcoming events, visit the Susquehanna River Basin Commission website.  Click Here to sign up for SRBC’s newsletter.   Follow SRBC on Twitter, visit them on YouTube.

Related Articles:

-- DEP Expands Drought Warning To 3 Counties, Drought Watch To 29 Counties

-- Gov. Wolf Requests Federal Major Disaster Declaration For $27.6 Million In Damages From Tropical Storm Isaias In August

[Posted: October 8, 2020]

10/12/2020