2014 OVERVIEW : National Streamgage Network Design by USGS

1. 2014 OVERVIEW:NationalStreamgageNetwork Designby USGS

2. USGS Streamgage Network an effective combinationto achieve high quality science based on reliable measurements and shared investmentguided by national priorities

3. USGS Streamgaging History John Wesley Powell (USGS Director; 1881 – 1894) directed USGS to begin monitoring streamflow in the west First USGS gage in 1889 on 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

4. National Streamgage Network • Cooperative Water ProgramCWP = 4,521 streamgages in 2012(+750 interpretive studies) • National Streamflow Information ProgramNSIP = 3,504 streamgages in 2012 8,025 total USGS active streamgages an effective combinationto achieve high quality sciencebased on reliable measurementsand shared investmentguided by national priorities

5. National Streamgage Network

6. 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.

7. Cooperative Water Program • CWP = hydrologic data + investigative studies • Program started as a 50:50 cost-sharenot authorized by Congress, except for specific direction in annual federal appropriations legislation • Active in every state & most territories • Engages more than 1,500 cost-share “Cooperators,” >700 for streamgages alone • Guided by national priorities

8. Cooperative Water Program • CWP = hydrologic data + investigative studies • Data collection by USGS maintaining high QA/QCAccessible to all without chargeConsistent, Reliable & Available 24x7x365 • Data & studies are limited by funding, but Cooperators are paying 2x the funds USGS gets • 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

9. National Streamflow Information Program (NSIP) • Requested by Congress in 1998USGS design was reviewed by NAS/NRC in 2004NSIP was authorized by Congress in 2009 • Program concept is to establish a reliablenational “backbone” streamgage network to meet 5 specific, national needs andprovide benchmark for monitoring by others • Design = Network of 4,759 streamgages Strategic locations across America asFoundation for other streamgage networks Reliable + Continuous  Federal Funded 4,759 does not provide sufficient resolution to meet federalneeds and constrain uncertainty without CWP supplement to bring national streamgage network to more than 8,000

10. 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 neededby federal, state, tribal, interstate and local officials to effectively manage watertowards sustainable ends • American water community needs anational leader in water sciences • Favorable review of USGS operations, science capabilities and NSIP design

11. National Streamflow Information Program • Reliable national streamgage network to meet5 specific, national needs • Design =network of 4,759 monitoring sitesreliable + continuous  federal fundedActual < 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

12. National Streamflow Information Program Implementation Status

13. National Streamgage NetworkTotal NSIP + CWP Streamgages

16. Questions?? effective combination to achieve high quality science based on reliable measurements and shared investmentguided by national priorities Contact ICWP/Peter Evanswww.icwp.org (703) 243-7383 or phe@riverswork.com

17. USGS Streamgage Network An effective combinationto achieve high quality sciencebased on reliable measurementsand shared investmentguided by national priorities • Cooperative Water Programwithout the cost-share investmentfederal government would not have adequate coverage • National Streamflow Information Programwithout reliable funding for the set of “backbone” streamgagesfederal government loses long-term records needed toidentify trends and support interpretive science 8,025 total USGS active streamgages providing the benchmark needed by USGS and other agencies

18. Stakeholder Support Coalition • Organized by ICWPwith 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

19. Stakeholder Support Coalition • Focused effort to inform the Administration (Interior & OMB) and Congress • 53 organizations endorsed our 2013 letters

20. 2013 Stakeholder Coalition • American Canoe Association • 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 Metropolitan Water Agencies • Association of State Dam Safety Officials • Association of State Floodplain Managers • Association of Clean Water Administrators • Bear River Commission • California Sportfishing Protection Alliance • Coastal States Organization • Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum • Colorado Water Congress • Delaware River Basin Commission • Environmental Defense Fund • International Federation of Fly Fishers • Great Lakes Commission • Hydropower Reform Coalition • Idaho Rivers United • Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin • Interstate Council on Water Policy • Irrigation Association • Missouri River Association of States & Tribes • National Association of Clean Water Agencies • National Association of Flood & Stormwater Management Agencies • National Association of State Boating Law Administrators • National Drought Mitigation Center • National Hydropower Association • National Water Resources Association • National Wildlife Federation • The Nature Conservancy • New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission • Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission • Oregon Water Resources Congress • Pennsylvania Environmental Council • Pennsylvania Organization of Watersheds & Rivers • Rivers Alliance of Connecticut • River Network • Susquehanna River Basin Commission • Texas Water Conservation Association • Trout Unlimited • Trout Unlimited, Pennsylvania Council • Upper Colorado River Compact Commission • Upper Mississippi River Basin Association • Water Environment Federation • Western States Water Council • Yellowstone River Compact Commission

21. National Streamgage Networkby USGS effective combinationto achieve high quality science based on reliable measurements and shared investmentguided by national priorities