2014 OVERVIEW:
National Streamgage
Network Design
by USGS
USGS Streamgage Network
an effective combination
to achieve high quality science
based on reliable measurements
and
shared investment
guided to meet national priorities
USGS Streamgaging History
• John Wesley Powell (USGS Director; 1881 – 1894)
directed USGS to begin monitoring streamflow in the
American west
• First USGS gage installed 1889 to monitor the Rio
Grande near Embudo, New Mexico
• By 1895, streamflow was being monitored by USGS
in 27 states/territories
• Most stations in 1968 = 8,320 in operation
• In 2012, USGS was operating 8,025 Streamgages
National Streamgage Network
•
Cooperative Water Program
CWP = 4,521 streamgages in 2012
(+750 interpretive studies)
•
National Streamflow Information Program
NSIP = 3,504 streamgages in 2012
8,025 total USGS active streamgages
an effective combination
to achieve high quality science
based on reliable measurements
and
shared investment
guided to meet national priorities
National Streamgage Network
Cooperative Water Program
CWP Mission: to provide reliable, impartial,
and timely information needed to understand
the Nation's water resources through a
program of shared efforts and funding with
state, tribal, and local partners to enable
decision makers to wisely manage the
Nation's water resources.
Cooperative Water Program
• CWP = hydrologic data + investigative studies
• Program started as a 50:50 cost-share
not authorized by Congress, except for specific
direction in annual federal appropriations legislation
• Engages more than 1,500 cost-share
“Cooperators”
• Active in every state & most territories
• Guided to meet national priorities
Cooperative Water Program
• CWP = hydrologic data + investigative studies
• Data collection by USGS maintaining high QA/QC
Accessible to all without charge
Consistent, Reliable & Available 24x7x365
• Data & studies are limited by funding, but
Cooperators are paying 2x the USGS funds
– Competitive selection applying national priorities
– USGS scientists get direct involvement in latest
challenges
– Cooperators get impartial science expertise from a
national agency that has no regulatory function
National Streamflow Information Program
(NSIP)
• Requested by Congress in 1998
USGS design was reviewed by NAS/NRC in 2004
NSIP was authorized by Congress in 2009
• Program concept is to establish a reliable
national “backbone” streamgage network
to meet 5 specific, national needs and
provide benchmark for monitoring by others
• Design = Network of 4,759 streamgages
Strategic locations across America as
Foundation for other streamgage networks
Reliable + Continuous  Federal Funded
4,759 does not provide sufficient resolution to meet federal
needs and constrain uncertainty without CWP supplement
to bring national streamgage network to more than 8,000
National Research Council Review
•
•
•
•
2004 review of USGS design for NSIP
2007 review of USGS River Science
2009 review of USGS Water Program
New science and more data are needed
by federal, state, tribal, interstate and local
officials to effectively manage water
towards sustainable ends
• American water community needs a
national leader in water sciences
• Favorable review of USGS operations,
science capabilities and NSIP design
National Streamflow Information Program
• Reliable national streamgage network to meet
5 specific, national needs
• Design =network of 4,759 monitoring sites
reliable + continuous  federal funded
Actual < 75% currently operating, and 87%
of those 3,504 streamgages lack
reliable funding (i.e., depend on
CWP Cooperators & OFAs), which
defeats the intended reliability of NSIP
• A fully implemented NSIP would require
$115 M to complete and $110 M/yr to operate
National Streamflow Information Program
Implementation Status
National Streamflow Information Program
Implementation Status
National Streamgage Network
Total NSIP + CWP Streamgages
USGS Streamgage Network Funding,
FY 2013 $161.5M
State/Local
$79M
49%
NSIP
$28M
17%
CWP
$28M
17%
OFA
$27M
17%
National Streamgage Network
effective combination to achieve
high quality science based on
reliable measurements and
shared investment
guided to meet national priorities
Contact ICWP/Peter Evans
www.icwp.org
(703) 243-7383 or phe@riverswork.com
USGS Streamgage Network
An effective combination
to achieve high quality science
based on reliable measurements
and
shared investment
guided to meet national priorities
•
Cooperative Water Program
without the cost-share investment
federal government would not have adequate coverage
•
National Streamflow Information Program
without reliable funding for the set of “backbone” streamgages
federal government loses long-term records needed to
identify trends and support interpretive science
8,025 total USGS active streamgages
providing the benchmark needed by USGS and other agencies
Stakeholder Support Coalition
• Organized by ICWP with help from:
– Western States Water Council
– Association of State Floodplain Managers
– American Society of Civil Engineers
– National Water Resources Association
– American Rivers
– National Wildlife Federation
Stakeholder Support Coalition
• Focused effort to inform the
Administration (Interior & OMB) and Congress
• 57 organizations endorsed the 2014 letters
2014 Stakeholder Coalition
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Alabama Rivers Alliance
American Canoe Association
American Meteorological Society
American Rivers
American Society of Civil Engineers
American Water Resources
Association
American Water Works Association
American Whitewater
Appalachian Mountain Club
Association of American State
Geologists
Association of California Water
Agencies
Association of Clean Water
Administrators
Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies
Association of Metropolitan Water
Agencies
Association of State Dam Safety
Officials
Association of State Floodplain
Managers
Bear River Commission
California Sportfishing Protection
Alliance
Coastal States Organization
Colorado River Basin Salinity Control
Forum
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Colorado Water Congress
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Delaware River Basin Commission
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Environmental Defense Fund
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Farmington River Watershed
Association
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Great Lakes Commission
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Hydropower Reform Coalition
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Idaho Rivers United
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Idaho Water Users Association
Interstate Commission on the
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Potomac River Basin
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Interstate Council on Water Policy
Irrigation Association
Maryland Water Monitoring Council 
Missouri River Association of States &
Tribes
National Association of Clean Water 
Agencies
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National Association of Flood&
Stormwater Management Agencies 
National Association of State Boating 
Law Administrators
National Drought Mitigation Center
National Hydrologic Warning Council
National Hydropower Association
National Water Resources
Association
National Tribal Water Council
National Wildlife Federation
The Nature Conservancy
New England Interstate Water
Pollution Control Commission
Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation
Commission
Oregon Water Resources Congress
Red River Compact Commission
Susquehanna River Basin Commission
Texas Water Conservation
Association
Trout Unlimited
Upper Colorado River Compact
Commission
Upper Mississippi River Basin
Association
Washington State Water Resources
Association
Water Environment Federation
Western Landowners Alliance
Western States Water Council
Yellowstone River Compact
Commission
36 States Support
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Alabama
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Idaho
Illinois
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Maine
Maryland
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Massachusetts
Minnesota
Missouri
Montana
Nevada
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Dakota
Oklahoma
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Oregon
Rhode Island
Texas
South Carolina
South Dakota
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
National Streamgage Network
by USGS
effective combination
to achieve high quality science
based on
reliable measurements and
shared investment
guided by national priorities