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Monthly Water Resource Summary

February 2024

Precipitation

February 2024 Indiana precipitation was much below normal, with average temperature much above normal. The statewide monthly precipitation average was 45.4 percent of normal. The overall monthly temperature average for Indiana was 39.1 degrees Fahrenheit or 8.5 degrees above normal.

All nine climate divisions received much below normal precipitation for February (see Percent of Normal Precipitation Table). Climate Division 6 (EC) received the highest (60.2) percentage of normal precipitation for the month, while Climate Division 7 (SW) received the lowest (33.7) percentage.

Precipitation for the year to date (2024) ranges from 106.6% to 130.2% through February.

For the Water Year 2024, all nine climate divisions received below to near normal precipitation, ranging from 66.1% to 94.8%. Over the 2-year period (from March 2022-February 2024) all nine climate divisions have received below normal to slightly below normal precipitation ranging from 82.6% for Climate Division 6 (EC) to 96.8% for Climate Division 7 (SW).

The 12-month and 3-month SPI indices show all climate divisions in the “near normal” category. The 6-month SPI indices shows Climate Division 6 (EC) in the “moderately dry” category; with the remaining climate divisions in the “near normal” category.  The 1-month SPI indices shows climate divisions 4 (WC), 7 (SW), and 8 (SC) in the “moderately dry” category; with the remaining climate divisions in the “near normal” category.

U. S. Drought Monitor

For February 2024, the U.S. Drought Monitor shows a large area on a diagonal from Sullivan County in Southwest Indiana across central Indiana to the southern part of Adams County is experiencing “Abnormally Dry” conditions.  The rest of the state is no longer experiencing any drought conditions, The U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook predicts drought conditions to be over by the end of May 2024.

Streamflow

In February 2024, eleven of the twelve streams included in drought reporting since 1999 had much below normal streamflow.  The Muscatatuck near Deputy had the lowest mean monthly flow at 28%, and the Kankakee at Shelby had the highest mean monthly flow at 128%.

Detailed Information on Streamflow

Lake Michigan

On March 1, 2024, the Lake Michigan-Huron forecasted water level was 3 inches below the measurement taken on February 1, 2024, and 3 inches below the measurement taken on March 1, 2023. On February 29, 2024, the Michigan-Huron level was 578.74 feet, which is 32 inches above the lowest recorded monthly mean level for February set in 1964. Comparison of February monthly mean water levels to the long-term (1918-present) average shows Lakes Michigan-Huron water levels were about 4 inches above the average. All Lake Michigan-Huron data are referenced to the International Great Lakes Datum 1985.

The Lake Michigan-Huron water level is forecast by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to rise 1 inch over the next month.

Reservoirs

On February 29, 2024, the water levels for seven of the eight reservoirs monitored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were above the normal pool elevation. The deviation from normal pool ranged from -4.8 feet (Mississinewa) to +1.1 feet (Cagles Mill).

Two of the three reservoirs monitored by Citizens Water, Eagle Creek and Geist, were below their respective normal pool elevations as of February 29, 2024. The deviation from normal pools ranged from -1.34 feet (Eagle Creek) to +0.25 feet (Morse).

Groundwater Levels

As of February 29, 2024, new water level data is available for all nine wells currently monitored. Of the nine wells, data indicates that water levels are near normal for Laporte 9. Water levels are below to well below normal for Fulton 7, Lagrange 2, Vigo 7, Morgan 4, Randolph 3, Posey 3, Harrison 8 and Clark 20.

Real-time data is available for all of the wells and may be accessed on the following U.S. Geological 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, Midwestern Regional Climate Center

Standardized 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

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

Temperature data:
Midwestern Regional Climate Center and Indiana State Climate Office, Purdue University

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