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Evaluation of the Lakes and Impoundments Drought Index for the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan

Scientific Investigations Report 2024-5081
Prepared in cooperation with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
By:
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20245081

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Abstract

The condition of surface water storage in lakes and impoundments is used as an index of drought in the Massachusetts drought management plan. The U.S. Geological Survey visited 28 of these lakes and impoundments at 14 single and multiple waterbody systems to evaluate their appropriateness for characterizing drought. The data collection and computation methods at each system were then reviewed and checked for consistency. The types of historical monthly data available varied by system and included water surface elevation, depth of water below the spillway, volume, or reservoir capacity (percent full). For this analysis, water surface elevations and reservoir capacities were converted to volumes to assess the interannual variability in lake volumes. As a second level of assessment, analysis was also done on water surface elevation variability. Systems that did not have enough differentiation in monthly values between lake volume or water surface elevations to clearly demarcate drought levels were identified as unsuitable for use in the drought index for that month. This report discusses the limitations of using the reviewed lakes and impoundments as a drought index, as well as a list of best practices for data collection techniques to improve the confidence and reliability of the data collected.

Suggested Citation

Smith, T.L., 2024, Evaluation of the lakes and impoundments drought index for the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2024–5081, 19 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20245081.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Purpose and Scope
  • Background
  • System Descriptions
  • Historical Data
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Limitations of the Drought Severity Level
  • Best Practices for Data Collection
  • Summary
  • Selected References
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Evaluation of the lakes and impoundments drought index for the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2024-5081
DOI 10.3133/sir20245081
Year Published 2024
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) New England Water Science Center
Description Report: vi, 19 p.; Data Release
Country United States
State Massachusetts
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
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