USGS Water-Year Summary 2023

01578475 OCTORARO CREEK NEAR RICHARDSMERE, MD

LOCATION - Lat 39°42'24", long 76°06'56" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, Cecil County, MD, Hydrologic Unit 02050306, at single-span steel-truss bridge on New Bridge Road, 1.0 mi south of PA-MD state line, 1.3 mi northeast of Richardsmere, and 2.5 mi east of Rock Springs, MD.

DRAINAGE AREA - 177 mi².

REVISIONS HISTORY - WDR-US-2009: 2006, 2007, 2008 (M).

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - October 1988 to September 1995 (discharge measurements only); December 2005 to current year.

GAGE - Water-stage recorder and crest-stage gage. Datum of gage is 120 ft above National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929, from topographic map. Satellite telemetry at station.

COOPERATION - Station established and maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission. 

REMARKS - The Chester Water Authority diverts water from the Susquehanna River to the Octoraro Reservoir located 9 mi upstream of station. Water is also pumped from the reservoir for water supply. Net diversion from the reservoir for the year is computed and filed with the Water Science Center through Water Year 2016. Records for water years 2014-2016 are fair except those for discharges greater than 4,300 ft³/s, and those for estimated daily discharges, which are poor. Records for water years 2017-2020 are fair except for discharges greater than 4,300 ft³/s and estimated discharge, which are poor. Records for water year 2021 are good except for discharges greater than 4,300 ft³/s and estimated discharge, which are poor. Records for water year 2022 are good except for discharges greater than 500 ft³/s, which are fair and for discharges greater than 4,300 ft³/s and estimated discharge, which are poor. Records for water year 2023 are fair except for discharges greater than 4,300 ft³/s and estimated discharge, which are poor.