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DOW Home > Water Availability / Use / Rights > Water Resource Updates (updated monthly) > Monthly Water Resource Summary Monthly Water Resource Summary

November, 2012

Precipitation
November 2012 Indiana precipitation was generally much below normal for most of the state. The statewide monthly precipitation average was about 28% of normal. The overall monthly temperature average for Indiana was 40.1 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 2.2 degrees below normal.

All of Indiana’s nine climate divisions received much below normal precipitation for the month of November. The central climate division received the highest (36.7) percentage of normal precipitation for the month, while the northwestern division received the lowest (17.2) percentage. For the year to date through November, total precipitation is below normal for all climate divisions (72.3 to 88.2%).

For the 2013 water year, which began October 1, 2012, total precipitation is below normal for all of Indiana’s nine climate divisions (64.9 to 95.0%). Over the longer duration (from January 2011) Indiana’s nine climate divisions have received above normal precipitation, ranging from 102.2% for the northwestern division to 115.3% for the east-central division.

For the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) long-term 12-month index, the northwestern and north-central climate divisions lie in the “severely dry” category. The northeastern, west-central, and southwestern climate divisions are in the “moderately dry” range, and the four remaining divisions are in the “near normal” category. The 6-month index shows the northeastern climate division in the “moderately dry” range. The rest of the climate divisions are in the “near normal” category. For the 3-month index, all of Indiana’s nine climate divisions lie in the “near normal” range. The 1-month SPI index shows the northwestern and north-central climate divisions in the “extremely dry” category. The northeastern, south-central, and southeastern climate divisions lie in the “severely dry” range. The rest of the divisions are in the “moderately dry” category.

U. S. Drought Monitor
The U.S. Drought Monitor for the period ending November 27, 2012 showed the upper portion of northern Indiana in moderate drought or abnormally dry. Southern parts of the state showed abnormally dry conditions while 50% of Indiana showed no drought conditions.     

Streamflows
Mean monthly flow for eleven of the twelve monitored streams were below their historical mean monthly flow for the month of November. The Muscatatuck River near Deputy had the lowest mean monthly flow with 6% of the historical mean flow for the month. Fall Creek near Fortville had the highest mean monthly flow with 111% of the historical mean flow for the month.

Lake Michigan
The Lake Michigan-Huron water level for November was two inches below last month’s water level and sixteen inches below last year’s water level. Comparison of November monthly mean water levels to long-term (1918-present) averages shows that Lakes Michigan-Huron water levels were about 29 inches below average. On November 29, 2012, the Michigan-Huron level was about 576.24 feet, which is approximately 0.06 inches below the lowest recorded monthly mean level for November set in 1964.

The Lake Michigan-Huron water level is forecast by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to fall three inches over the next month.

Reservoirs
Water levels for two of the eight Indiana reservoirs being monitored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were below their normal winter pool elevation on November 30. The normal pool deviation ranged from -3.6 feet (Patoka) to 0.8 feet (J.E. Roush).

Two of the three reservoirs monitored by Citizens Water; Morse, Geist, and Eagle Creek, were below normal pool elevations as of November 30, 2012. The deviation from their normal pools ranged from -0.51 feet (Eagle Creek) to 0.13 feet (Morse).

Ground Water Levels
As of December 3, 2012, recent water level data are available for eight of the nine wells being monitored. The water level is below to much below normal for seven of the eight wells with the Randolph 3 water level near normal. Groundwater levels are expected to increase through December for much of the state.

Real-time data are available for LaPorte 9, Fulton 7, LaGrange 2, Morgan 4, Randolph 3, Posey 3, Harrison 8, and Jefferson 5.

The real-time information may be accessed on the following U.S. Geological Survey website: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/in/nwis/current/?type=gw

Acknowledgments
This report has been compiled from Division of Water data and from information supplied by the following:

Precipitation data:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service

Standard Precipitation Index (SPI):
National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) and Western Regional Climate Center (WRCC)

Streamflow:
U.S. Geological Survey and State of Indiana cooperative program

Lake Michigan level data:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District 

Reservoir data:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District

Ground water level data:
U.S. Geological Survey and State of Indiana cooperative program 

Palmer Drought Severity Index:U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service

Temperature data:
Indiana State Climate Office, Purdue University

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