Daily Rainfall in Inches at Nine Places. in Massachusetts, Geographically selected TOT., 2.35 2.87 3.00 2.92 3.61 2.81 3.98 3.87 2.93 TOT., 1.35 0.87 1.69 2.17 1.89 1.74 1.97 3.30 3.63 FLOW OF STREAMS. The records of the flow of the Sudbury River for 1896 indicate that the flow of the streams of the State was slightly less than the average for the past twenty-two years. In order to show the relation between the flow of the Sudbury River during each month of 1896 and the normal flow of the same river, as deduced from observations covering a period of twenty-two years, from 1875 to 1896 inclusive, the following table has been prepared. The area of the watershed of the Sudbury River above the point where its flow was measured is 75.2 square miles. Table showing Average Monthly Flow of Sudbury River for the Year 1896, in Cubic Feet Per Second per Square Mile of Drainage Area, also Departures from the Normal Flow. The next table shows the weekly fluctuations during 1896 in the flow of the two streams most carefully measured, namely, the Sudbury and the Merrimack. The flow of these streams, particularly the Sudbury, will serve to indicate the condition of the other streams. in eastern Massachusetts. In the report for the year 1895 the weekly flow of the Sudbury River was incorrectly given. The following table gives the corrected figures for that year: In the annual report of the State Board of Health for the year 1890, pages 338 to 340, a table taken from the annual reports of the Boston Water Board was printed, giving the records of rainfall upon the Sudbury watershed, and its total yield expressed in inches in depth on the watershed (inches of rainfall collected) for the sixteen years from 1875 to 1890 inclusive. The corresponding records for the years 1891 to 1895 inclusive were given in the annual report in 1895, page 430. In the following table is given the record for 1896, together with the average of the records for the whole twenty-two years: Rainfall received and collected on the Sudbury River Watershed. The Sudbury River records are particularly valuable as a basis for estimating the yield of other watersheds in Massachusetts, both on account of the accuracy with which the measurements have been made, and the absence of abnormal conditions which would unfavorably affect the results. It is, therefore, thought advisable to publish in the following table those portions of the records relating to the yield of this watershed for each of the twenty-two years, and in doing so the flow from the watershed is expressed in gallons per day per square mile instead of inches, and the depth of rainfall collected, in order to render the table more convenient for use in estimating the probable yield of other watersheds. |