Precipitation in February helped to replenish ground-water levels and reservoir supplies in the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. region, according to hydrologists at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in Baltimore, Maryland. However, improved water-supply conditions will be sustained only if precipitation remains near normal in the coming months. Ground-water levels at the end of February have increased throughout most of the area and are in the normal range throughout the entire bi-state area. Contents of the Baltimore reservoir system increased from 60,740 million gallons (60.74 billion gallons) in January to 65,750 million gallons near the end of February, which was 87 percent of average and 94 percent of last year at this time. End-of-month contents in February 1999 were about 69,490 million gallons.

Flow into the Chesapeake Bay was 80% of average (68.5 billion gallons per day or bgd) for the month of February and was estimated to be about 55 bgd. February streamflow has increased in bi-state area local streams and has moved from the below normal range to the normal range for this time of year. Streamflow at Potomac River near Washington, D.C. has moved from the deficient into the normal range.

As the nation's largest water, earth and biological science, and civilian mapping agency, the USGS works in cooperation with more than 2,000 organizations across the country to provide reliable, impartial scientific information to resource managers, planners, and other customers. This information is gathered in every state by USGS scientists to minimize the loss of life and property from natural disasters, contribute to the sound conservation and the economic and physical development of the nation's natural resources, and enhance the quality of life by monitoring water, biological, energy, and mineral resources.