Lower Susquehanna

Watershed Hydrology

The Lower Susquehanna Watershed (HUC 02050306) covers an area of approximately 9,000 square miles in Pennsylvania and Maryland. The hydrology of the watershed is influenced by the Susquehanna River, which is the longest river on the east coast of the United States. The watershed receives an average of 40-48 inches of precipitation per year, which includes snowpack during the winter months. Snowpack in the watershed is important for maintaining water levels in the reservoirs, which provide drinking water and support hydroelectric power generation. The main reservoirs in the watershed include Conowingo, Safe Harbor, and Holtwood. Reservoir constituents include sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus, which can impact water quality. The watershed experiences a humid continental climate, with average temperatures ranging from 25-85 degrees Fahrenheit. Interesting climatic trends include an increase in extreme precipitation events and warmer temperatures over the past few decades.


Surface Flows

Lower Susquehanna Watershed

Snowpack Depths

Lower Susquehanna Watershed

Dams & Reservoirs

Lower Susquehanna Watershed

Groundwater Levels

Lower Susquehanna Watershed

Lower Susquehanna Rivers

Rivers of the Watershed