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<br /> science for a changing world 't
<br /> The USGS National Information Program and the
<br /> Importance of P Streamgages
<br /> Long-term streamflow information is critical for use in several water-related areas that are important
<br /> to humans and wildlife, including water management, computation of flood and drought flows for water
<br /> infrastructure,and analysis of climate-related trends. Specific uses are many and diverse and range from
<br /> informing water rights across state and international boundaries to designing dams and bridges.
<br /> USGS Strearngaging Network via the Internet beginning in the late 1980s.The NSIP has five
<br /> major goals:
<br /> The U.S. Geological Survey(USGS)operates and 1. Develop,maintain,and fully fund an enhanced, stable
<br /> maintains a national streamgage network of more than 8,000 baseline streamgaging network that meets Federal needs for
<br /> streamgages(2013)to provide long-term,accurate, and streamflow information,including the need for long-term data-
<br /> unbiased streamflow information to meet the multiple needs of sets. This baseline network is supplemented by streamgages
<br /> many diverse users. Streamflow information is fundamental to funded by partnerships to meet state,regional, and local needs.
<br /> national and local economic well-being,protection of life and 2. Improve the timeliness,reliability, and convenience of
<br /> property, and efficient and effective management of streamflow information delivery to users.This includes robust
<br /> water resources. and redundant data delivery systems that ensure continued
<br /> The USGS operates the streamgaging network in partner- availability of data during catastrophic events and provide
<br /> ship with more than 850 Federal, state,tribal,regional,and improved storage,retrieval,and data analysis abilities.
<br /> local agencies. The streamflow information from this network, 3. Make regional assessments of existing streamflow
<br /> both historic and real-time,is used for many purposes that ben- information on an ongoing basis to identify trends and to
<br /> efit everyone in our society,although many are unaware of its estimate streamflow at locations without streamgages.These
<br /> existence,uses, or value.Uses of USGS streamgage informa- trend analyses can help to identify the effects of land-use,
<br /> tion include water-availability assessments;water compacts water-use,and climatic changes.
<br /> and decrees; engineering design of reservoirs,bridges,roads, 4. Improve the understanding of floods and droughts
<br /> culverts,and water-treatment plants;operation of reservoirs through additional measurements and analyses.
<br /> for power production and other uses; analysis of changes in 5. Perform and fund research and development activities
<br /> streamflow due to climatic,land-use,and water-use changes; to advance equipment technologies and measurement and
<br /> forecasting of streamflows,including flood forecasting; sup- analysis techniques for greater accuracy and lower cost.
<br /> port of water-quality programs;providing adequate flows for
<br /> fish and other organisms; and ensuring recreation safety and
<br /> enjoyment. Most USGS streamgages provide streamflow infor-
<br /> mation for more than one use.As an example of its widespread
<br /> use,more than 50 different organizations in Maryland activelyuse USGS streamflow information including the Federal -
<br /> Emergency Management Agency,U.S.Fish and Wildlife .
<br /> Service,Maryland State Highway Administration,Maryland
<br /> `4° .
<br /> Department of the Environment,county and city departments - p
<br /> t ,
<br /> of public works, and private engineering companies(Hester
<br /> and others,2006a).
<br /> USGS National Streamflow Information Program
<br /> The National Streamflow Information Program(NSIP) �-, °»
<br /> was started in 2002 in response to Congressional and
<br /> stakeholder concerns about the ongoing decrease in the num-
<br /> ber of active USGS streamgages(particularly streamgages
<br /> with long periods of record),the inability of the USGS to fund Photograph credit:Bradley H.Udall
<br /> high-priority streamgages when faced with reduced partner Figure 1. Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River,
<br /> funds,and the increased demand for streamflow information July 21,2004, 119 feet below full level.
<br /> U.S.Department of the Interior Fact Sheet 2014-3026
<br /> U.S.Geological Survey May 2014
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