USGS Water-Year Summary 2024
01606500 SOUTH BRANCH POTOMAC RIVER NEAR PETERSBURG, WV
LOCATION - Lat 38°59'28", long 79°10'34" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, Grant County, WV, Hydrologic Unit 02070001, on right bank 1.1 mi downstream from North Fork South Branch Potomac River, 2.6 mi west of Petersburg, and at mile 74.7.
DRAINAGE AREA - 651 mi².
REVISIONS HISTORY - WSP 951: 1939-41. WSP 1141: 1932, 1933(M), 1936-38. WDR WV-US-2006: Drainage area. WDR-US-2009: 1938 (M).
SURFACE-WATER RECORDS
PERIOD OF RECORD - June 1928 to current year.
GAGE - Water-stage recorder. Datum of gage is 965.88 ft NAVD of 1988, previously reported as 967.87 ft NAVD of 1988. Prior to Dec. 4, 1928, nonrecording gage and June 1928 to Nov. 5, 1985, water-stage recorder at site 1,125 ft downstream at datum 962.00 ft above COE 12. Nov. 5, 1985, to June 22, 1994, and Oct. 23, 1996 to current year, water-stage recorder at present site and datum. June 22, 1994, to Oct. 23, 1996, water-stage recorder at site 325 ft downstream at datum 2.34 ft lower.
EXTREMES OUTSIDE PERIOD OF RECORD - Flood in November 1877 reached a stage of 21.2 ft, from floodmarks at site and datum then in use, discharge, about 59,000 ft³/s. Flood of 1924 reached a stage of 19.2 ft, from floodmarks at site and datum then in use, discharge, about 45,000 ft³/s.
WATER-QUALITY RECORDS
PERIOD OF DAILY RECORD -
WATER TEMPERATURE: January 1947 to September 1953, November 1954 to June 1965, October 1965 to June 1973.
EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF DAILY RECORD -
WATER TEMPERATURE: Maximum observed, 29°C, June 27, July 23, 1952, and Aug. 3, 1955; minimum, freezing point on many days during winter months most years.