USGS Water-Year Summary 2024
01668000 RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER NEAR FREDERICKSBURG, VA
LOCATION - Lat 38°18'30", long 77°31'46" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, Spotsylvania County, VA, Hydrologic Unit 02080104, on right bank, along State Highway 618 (River Road), 0.7 mi downstream from Motts Run, and 5.3 mi upstream from Fredericksburg.
DRAINAGE AREA - 1,595 mi².
REVISIONS HISTORY - WSP 801: 1924(M). WSP 951: 1937(M). WSP 1302: 1907-12, 1913(M), 1916(M), 1918(M), 1920- 21(M). WDR VA-03-1: 2001(M). OFR 2006-1308: Drainage area.
SURFACE-WATER RECORDS
PERIOD OF RECORD - September 1907 to current year. Monthly discharge only for some periods, published in WSP 1302.
GAGE -
Water-stage recorder. Datum of gage is 70 ft NGVD of 1929, from topographic map. Prior to Jan. 15, 1922, nonrecording gage, at site 1.5 mi downstream at datum of 56.18 ft. Jan. 15 to Aug. 2, 1966, water-stage recorder at same site and datum. Aug. 2, 1966 to Oct. 17, 2000, at same site, at datum of 55.18 NGVD of 1929. Oct. 17, 2000 to current year, at present site and datum.
Datum of gage is 63.69 ft NAVD of 1988.
EXTREMES OUTSIDE PERIOD OF RECORD - Flood in June 1889 was probably several feet lower than that of Oct. 16, 1942.
WATER-QUALITY RECORDS
PERIOD OF RECORD - Water years 1929 to 1930, 1956, 1967 to 1974, 1978 to 1999, and 2001 to current year.
PERIOD OF DAILY RECORD -
pH: March 2004 to September 2008, September 2016 to current year.
SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE: October 1955 to September 1956, April 1968 to August 1974, October 1988 to September 1991 (unpublished), October 1991 to October 1993, March 2004 to September 2008, September 2016 to current year.
TURBIDITY: March 2004 to September 2008, September 2016 to current year.
WATER TEMPERATURE: October 1955 to September 1956, April 1968 to August 1974,March 2004 to September 2008, September 2016 to current year.
INSTRUMENTATION - Water-quality monitor. Electronic data logger with 15-minute recording interval.
EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF DAILY RECORD -
pH: Maximum, 9.07 standard units, Aug. 22, 2008, but may have been higher during periods of missing record; minimum, 6.2 standard units, May 9, 10, 2008, but may have been lower during periods of missing record.
SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE: Maximum, 198 microseimens/cm, Oct. 5, 2007, but may have been higher during periods of missing record; minimum, 31 microseimens/cm, Jan. 19, 1969, but may have been lower during periods of missing record.
TURBIDITY: Maximum, 1,460 Formazin Nephelometric Units, June 26, 2006, but may have been higher during periods of missing record; minimum, 0.0 Formazin Nephelometric Units, Oct. 3-5, 2005, Sept. 22, 23, 2008.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Maximum recorded, 34.4°C, Aug. 3, 2006, but may have been higher during periods of missing record; minimum, -0.1°C, on several days but may have been lower during periods of missing record.