Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations When are water levels the lowest?

One question for the group....water level....when is it the lowest? Right now? As we hit winter but havent hit the winter storms?

The reason I ask is the water level on the new property is down a few inches from a 3-4 weeks ago. I assume as the temps cool and evaporation slows down it will regulate and then fill over the winter and spring? Sound right?

I would think it is highly variable on so many factors. Seems like rainfall is so chaotic here that is always different from year to year.

Mike,

I've lived in VA/WV for nearly 40 years. Most years -- depends on tropical storms and hurricanes, but mid-July through early September usually have the lowest water levels in ponds, streams, and rivers.

Here is a link to average rainfall over a 30 year period of time. 30 Year Average Rainfall for Cities in US

Monthly average rainfall stays pretty consistent year around in Virginia, at 3-4 inches per month, but there there are major differences in what happens with that water during different times of the year. The rains in July through early September are more typically from thunderstorm activity instead of two to three day light rain/snow at other times of the year.

I tried to find historical average river flow charts from USGS, but I don't know where they went. But, in years gone by, I've looked at them closely, and it is very interesting to see how much the flow rate drops in rivers like the James, the Rappahannock, the Shenandoah, etc., during July, August and September. There will be two or three day spikes from thunderstorms, but in general they are down considerably from other times of the year.

Regards,
Ken

I didn't find exactly what I was looking for above, but this website Estimated Monthly Streamflow Entering Chesapeake Bay shows quite a bit of data.

The link above is for 2010 compared to long term averages, above normal, and below normal. You can use the right-left arrows to look back about 30 years at the graphs, and they stay pretty consistent.

I believe that the Chesapeake Bay Watershed very accurately represents the expected average water levels throughout Virginia.

As I mentioned above, the lowest periods are basically July through September -- and from personal experience, that is really from about the second week of July through the second or third week of September.

If I was going to build a new pond, that would be a good time to start moving dirt.

In the eight years we've owned this place, our pond/s have generally always been above full pool until early July, and are back at full pool by around mid October. Except for this year, they have always been below full pool from sometime in July to sometime in late September.

Ken

I know this is an old old thread but I finally made it back out to the property this past weekend....WOW the water level is as high as it can go and my 2.5 acre pond is probably 3 acres now. It is actually running out of the overflow (not a lot).

This is a great sign because the dam isnt leaking and the water levels are high, I guess it was only the drought in South Central VA!

The other good news is I actually saw some fish surfacing to eat, the first sign of fish I have had.

It was exciting to spend the weekend out there. It was cold (Mid to low 30's) but camping next to MY POND was pretty awesome and waking up to the pond views was even better.

Great news NCMike, we did have a dry year so maybe this year your pond will stay close to full pool.

Great to hear NCMike!

In a drought.. Or when your ponds being drained

Typically at the end of summer. But what is considered typical anymore?

Before the dawn? Wait that's darkest not lowest....

Dlowrance whats the specs on those fish in your avatar they look nice.. One looks like it has bulging eyeball syndrome as I call it..

Water levels in our area of Va. is lowest right before the first hurricane that comes through,usually mid-Aug.-Sept. If we don't have a hurricane then you are screwed.