USGS Water-Year Summary for Site 01480700

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	Available Parameters
	00060 Discharge(Mean)
	63680 Turbidity, Form Neph(Max.,Min.,Mean)

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Water year 2024: 2024-10-01 to 2025-09-30

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USGS Water-Year Summary 2024

01480700 EAST BRANCH BRANDYWINE CREEK NEAR DOWNINGTOWN, PA

LOCATION - Lat 40°02'05", long 75°42'32" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, Chester County, PA, Hydrologic Unit 02040205, on right bank 20 ft downstream from bridge on Dowlin Forge Road, 200 ft east of State Highway 282, 0.4 mi downstream from Shamona Creek, 1.5 mi downstream from Marsh Creek, 2.0 mi upstream from Beaver Creek, and 2.2 mi north of Downingtown.

DRAINAGE AREA - 60.6 mi².

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - Occasional low-flow measurements, water years 1948-57. October 1965 to current year.

GAGE - Water-stage recorder and crest-stage gage. Datum of gage is 270 ft above National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929, from topographic map. Prior to July 30, 1966, non-recording gage at same site and datum. Satellite and landline telemetry at station.

COOPERATION - Station established and maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey. Funding for the operation of this station is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Geological Survey.

REMARKS - Flow regulated since November 1973 by Marsh Creek Reservoir (station 01480684) 1.9 mi upstream. Records rated fair except those estimated discharges, which are poor.

WATER-QUALITY RECORDS

PERIOD OF DAILY RECORD - November 2010 to current year.

INSTRUMENTATION - Turbidity is collected on a 15-minute interval from a water-quality sonde interfaced with site telemetry.

REMARKS -

As of October 2013, results from discrete water quality samples collected at this site are available through the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System web interface on the "Water Quality for the Nation" webpage. The reporting precision of the turbidity probe in low turbidity water is +/- 0.3 FNU, therefore the lowest reportable value, 0 FNU, does not necessarily indicate a condition of zero turbidity. Interruptions in the record were due to malfunctions of the equipment. Water year 2014 turbidity records rated poor. Water year 2015 turbidity records rated poor. Water year 2016 turbidity records rated fair. Water year 2017 turbidity records rated fair. Water year 2018 turbidity records rated fair except for February 9 - April 2, which are poor. Water year 2019 turbidity records are fair. Water year 2020 turbidity records rated fair.

The reporting precision of the turbidity probe in low turbidity water is +/-0.3 FNU. The lowest reportable value, 0 FNU, is subject to this error and does not necessarily indicate a condition of zero turbidity. Turbidity values greater than 1300 FNU are beyond the specification of the sensor and are considered unreliable. Interruptions in the record were due to malfunctions of the equipment.

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF DAILY RECORD - TURBIDITY: Maximum, 1,550 FNU, Dec. 1, 2010; minimum, 0.1 FNU, Sept 28, 2017. Maximum value exceeds manufacturers accuracy specifications of 1,000 NTU +/- 5%.