Bush Budget will Terminate North Fork Payette, Bois Brule & 127 other Gauges
posted February 6, 2002
by Jason Robertson
USGS Budget Threatened for FY03
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STREAMGAGING BUDGET February 4, 2002 President Bush
unveiled his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2003. The Administration has recommended
cutting the USGS Streamgaging program by $2.1 million (15%) from the 2002 enacted level
of $14.3 million. If approved by Congress, this will result in the effective
termination of 129 streamgages. Unless alternative funding is
located, these gauges will be terminated in October 2002.
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The 13 Most Popular Whitewater Gauges at Risk of Termination
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GAUGE NAME
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STATE
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USGS ID
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AW ID
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NF Payette River at Cascade
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ID
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13245000
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5024
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BOIS BRULE RIVER AT BRULE
|
WI
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4025500
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1819
|
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Aroostook R. at Washburn
|
ME
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1017000
|
9
|
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*Potomac R/Shepherdstown, WV
|
WV
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1618000
|
558
|
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Lake Fork at Gateview CO.
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CO
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9124500
|
4172
|
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Blacksm Fk ab Ut Power Dam
|
UT
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10113500
|
4430
|
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Entiat R nr Ardenvoir
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WA
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12452800
|
4929
|
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PIGEON R NR GRAND PORTAGE
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MN
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4010500
|
1814
|
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RIO GRANDE AT PIPELINE XING BELOW LAREDO,
TX
|
TX
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8459200
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4120
|
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Bear R at Evanston
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WY
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10016900
|
4426
|
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FORT PIERCE WASH NEAR ST. GEORGE,
UTAH
|
UT
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9408195
|
6608
|
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Gardner River near Mammoth
|
WY
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6191000
|
2656
|
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SIUSLAW RIVER NR MAPLETON, OR
|
OR
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14307620
|
5141
|
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NAWQA Think the streamgaging budget looks grim? The proposed
cuts in the National Water-Quality Assessment
(NAWQA) program are even worse. The Administration has proposed reducing NAWQA's
funding level by $5.8 million (9%) in FY03. This program is important because it
provides primary baseline data on long-term trends in water quality of streams, ground
water, and aquatic ecosystems. This data is used to ensure the current and future
security of you drinking water.
In early 2002, the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences
observed that "NAWQA has already become the premier program assessing status and
trends of water quality at a national level." The Council continued "[NAWQA] cannot
continue to downsize and still be considered a national water quality
assessment."
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Back to top Streamgaging FY03 Whitewater
Threats Water Quality Cuts
Help! 129 Gauges at Risk State
Listings FY03 Water Highlights AW's History with USGS
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Toxic Substances Hydrology Research
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-$13,919,000
|
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Water Resources Research Institutes
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-$6,000,000
|
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National Water Quality Assessment Program
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-$5,796,000
|
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Streamgaging
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-$2,096,000
|
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Hawaii Water Monitoring
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-$449,000
|
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Lake Champlain Water Quality Monitoring
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-$299,000
|
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Berkeley Pit Lake, MT
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-$200,000
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Noyes Slough study, AK
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-$195,000
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Southern Maryland Groundwater Study
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-$105,000
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TOTAL NET CHANGE FROM FY02 ENACTED
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-$29,000,000
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USGS Streamgaging
Needs $40M Budget Overall (2001)
AW Delivers Tellico
Gauge (2001)
Bush Recommends 40% Cut
in Streamgaging (2001)
AW Helps USGS Get $9.9M
Increase for Streamgaging (2000)
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You can help by writing, emailing, faxing, or calling your Congressional Representative.
1. Identify yourself as a whitewater boater; mention your affiliation with
American Whitewater, and briefly explain why you want to see the USGS Streamgaging
program fully funded at the $40M level supported by
American Whitewater.
2. Ask your Congressional representative to support increased funding for
streamgaging, or at a minimum maintain the program at FY2002 enacted levels ($14.3M).
3. Provide additional details about how the loss of streamgages directly affects
you, and why your representative should help you. Emphasize the public interest behind
your request, cite how often you check the gauges, and how much you spend on a typical
day of travel for boating.
4. Finally, sign, date, and mail your letter and provide a return address. If you
have an extra moment send a copy to American Whitewater so we can reference it when we
visit your representative on the Hill.
5. We are also looking for photographs of these river sections for our
website. If you have pictures that you'd like to share, please post them.
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Back to top Streamgaging FY03 Whitewater
Threats Water Quality Cuts
Help! 129 Gauges at Risk State
Listings FY03 Water Highlights AW's History with
USGS
