U.S. Geological U.S. Geological Survey Survey

Streamgaging Streamgaging ProgramProgram

J. Michael Norris J. Michael Norris (mnorris@usgs.gov)(mnorris@usgs.gov)Coordinator, National Streamflow Coordinator, National Streamflow Information ProgramInformation Program

DiscussDiscuss::

USGS streamgaging programUSGS streamgaging program Uses of streamflow informationUses of streamflow information National Streamflow Information National Streamflow Information

Program (NSIP)Program (NSIP)

. The U.S. Geological Survey The U.S. Geological Survey

currently collects streamflow currently collects streamflow data at over 7,500 data at over 7,500

streamgages*streamgages* *3,200,000 river *3,200,000 river

reaches – 1 reaches – 1 streamgage per 430 streamgage per 430 river reachesriver reaches

San Francisquito Cr. nr. Stanford, CA

Pacific Cr. nr Moran, WY

Expanding Uses of Expanding Uses of Streamflow InformationStreamflow Information

Resource appraisal and allocationResource appraisal and allocation Design of Nation’s water infrastructureDesign of Nation’s water infrastructure Flood hazard planning and forecastingFlood hazard planning and forecasting Reservoir and power operationsReservoir and power operations Water quality management Water quality management Instream flows for habitat conditionsInstream flows for habitat conditions Understanding changes of streamflowUnderstanding changes of streamflow Recreational safetyRecreational safety More . . . .?More . . . .?

Use of Streamflow Use of Streamflow Information for Resource Information for Resource Appraisal And AllocationAppraisal And Allocation

Municipal water Municipal water supplysupply

IrrigationIrrigation ManufacturingManufacturing HydropowerHydropower HabitatHabitat

Use of Streamflow Use of Streamflow Information for the Design Information for the Design

of the Nation’s Water of the Nation’s Water InfrastructureInfrastructure

DamsDams Navigational locks and Navigational locks and

damsdams BridgesBridges CulvertsCulverts Water Treatment Water Treatment

facilitiesfacilities

Use of Streamflow Use of Streamflow Information for Flood Information for Flood Hazard Planning and Hazard Planning and

ForecastingForecasting NWSNWS

Streamflow Forecast Streamflow Forecast Model CalibrationsModel Calibrations

Model VerificationModel Verification Streamflow ForecastingStreamflow Forecasting

FEMAFEMA Flood plain delineationsFlood plain delineations Food Insurance Rate Food Insurance Rate

MapsMaps

Use of Streamflow Use of Streamflow Information for Reservoir Information for Reservoir

and Power Operationsand Power Operations Amount of water available in Amount of water available in

low-flow conditions.low-flow conditions. Amount of water available Amount of water available

today.today. Amount of water expected in Amount of water expected in

the future both short and the future both short and long termlong term

Use of Streamflow Use of Streamflow Information for Water Information for Water Quality Management Quality Management

and Instream Flows for and Instream Flows for Habitat ConditionsHabitat Conditions

TMDL’sTMDL’s Quantity and timing of Quantity and timing of

flows critical for habitatflows critical for habitat

Use of Streamflow Use of Streamflow Information for Information for

Understanding Changes of Understanding Changes of Streamflow and Streamflow and

Recreational safetyRecreational safety Land use, water use, and Land use, water use, and

climate changesclimate changes Recreational safety and Recreational safety and

enjoymentenjoyment

Active USGS Streamgages 1901 -2007

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

Streamgaging Network Streamgaging Network InstabilityInstabilityLong-Record Streamgages Lost

1987 - 2007

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Number of Active USGS Streamgages 1970 - 2007

6000

6500

7000

7500

8000

8500

What are the Issues?What are the Issues? Network’sNetwork’s ability to meetability to meet long-standing long-standing

FederalFederal goals declinedgoals declined because of:because of: An increasing instability in the networkAn increasing instability in the network

caused by a loss of critical streamgagescaused by a loss of critical streamgages due due to the way the streamgaging program is to the way the streamgaging program is funded.funded.

New issues and new technologies haveNew issues and new technologies have increasedincreased the demand for streamflow the demand for streamflow information.information.

New technologiesNew technologies are needed to: are needed to: Improve reliabilityImprove reliability Decrease costsDecrease costs Decrease uncertaintyDecrease uncertainty

Funding for USGS Funding for USGS Streamgaging Network, Streamgaging Network, FY FY

2008 Total $136.6M2008 Total $136.6MOFA funds

$28.5M21%

State/local funds$63.8M

46%

USGS-CWP

$24.2M18%

USGS-NSIP

$20.1M15%

USGS Federal Funding for Streamgages 1997 - 2008

Full NSIP Funding = $114M/Year

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

NSIP CWP - Streamgages

Five National Streamflow Five National Streamflow Information Program Information Program

GoalsGoals 1. Stabilize the streamgaging 1. Stabilize the streamgaging

networknetwork National National backbone networkbackbone network of streamgages to of streamgages to

meet meet Federal needsFederal needs Modernize and harden the networkModernize and harden the network

streamgagesstreamgages4,744 NSIP Federal Goal Streamgages(914 streamgages meet more than one need)

Water Quality145

Compact, border580

Major River basin445

Sentinel Watersheds868

Forecast Reachs3620

National Streamflow National Streamflow Information Program Information Program

(cont.)(cont.) 2.2. Floods and droughtsFloods and droughts 3. Regional assessments of 3. Regional assessments of

streamflow characteristicsstreamflow characteristics 4. Improved information delivery4. Improved information delivery 5. Methods development and 5. Methods development and

researchresearch

Streamgage Network Streamgage Network Funding Burden Funding Burden

Stakeholder SupportStakeholder Support

SECURE SECURE Water ActWater Act

Questions?Questions?