Boaters Seek $40 Million for USGS Streamgages in FY 2002
Posted: 09/06/2000
By: Jason Robertson
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) does as much as any other federal agency to promote safe
river use, recreation, public health, and river conservation via their national streamgaging
network; yet the network is dangerously underfunded. Therefore, American Whitewater is asking
Congress and the President to approve a fourfold budget increase in the budget for the streamgaging
program in FY 2002.
The USGS estimates that a fully funded stream gaging network would require a long-term investment in excess of $100 Million.
The agency shares its national streamgaging network with the public and river managers. This gives citizens the tools they need to protect their homes from flooding, and to judge whether rivers are too high or low for recreational activities such as fishing, wading, swimming, or boating. American Whitewater provides active links to this data here at www.americanwhitewater.org.
The USGS collects and shares streamflow data with the public for rivers all across the nation. Despite inadequate appropriations, they are working on providing real-time streamflow data for every river in every state. Rich Bowers, American Whitewater's Executive Director, expressed that "When this is complete it will be a thing of beauty."
Data is uploaded by satellite many times each day. The agency provides graphic images that show whether rivers are rising or falling, as well as information on temperature, historic flows, and other useful data. The agency also partners with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to predict rainfall and flooding. Timely access to river flow information has opened up America's river and streams for safe, responsible recreation.
Access Director Jason Robertson observed "This is the kind of irreplaceable program upon which our tax dollars should be spent."
Despite the importance of the streamgaging network for recreation, habitat preservation, water quality, agriculture, industry, water supply, navigation, flood hazard identification, and public safety the system is dangerously underfunded.
The USGS has recorded data from more than 18,000 gauges over the last century, of these sites only 7,200 were still in operation in 2000. In fact, twenty-two percent of streamgaging stations on small, free-flowing rivers have been closed since 1971.
American Whitewater, American Rivers, the American Canoe Association, and more than 500 other river-oriented conservation organizations are asking for Congress to provide USGS with $40 million earmarked for reviving the national streamgaging network in FY 2002. This is about four times the funding rate in FY 2000.
Appropriation & Funding History
FY'99 $6.5 Million
FY'00 $8.5 Million
FY'01 $10.2 Million/$11.6 Million (House/Senate requests as of 9/5/00)
At present, the nation's streamgaging network is funded through a partnership of about 800 state and local agencies and numerous federal agencies, including the USGS. Federal appropriations to the USGS for streamgaging provide only 6% of the total costs of the network. The remaining part is funded through a patchwork of cost-sharing arrangements with other federal, state, and local agencies. This dispersed funding has proven inadequate and restricts the delivery of important river information, with serious consequences for river health, research, safety, and recreation.
A single gauge, providing real-time data via satellite, costs between $8,000 and $20,000 to maintain each year. Due to their placement in dynamic flood-prone and often remote environments, the gauges require regular maintenance.
The USGS recently reported to Congress (http://water.usgs.gov/streamgaging/) that "We have increasing demands for information and yet the infrastructure to supply the information is declining… Real resources available to operate the streamgaging network have remained static and the USGS share of this funding has been declining [since the 1970's]… The needs for information continue to grow but current funding levels and arrangements will not provide the means for the USGS to enhance or even maintain [existing gauges]."
Every boater owes a huge thanks to the USGS for providing free streamgaging data over the Internet. In a recent USGS listening session, Robertson observed, "The timely availability of free streamgaging information has done more to promote whitewater recreation in the past decade than any other technological or marketing achievement besides the development of lightweight, affordable plastic boats. Access to information about water levels has helped millions of boaters plan vacations and enjoy America's rivers safely. This helps the economy, improves safety, and benefits the public."
For more information about the USGS check out: http://water.usgs.gov/realtime.html.
The USGS estimates that a fully funded stream gaging network would require a long-term investment in excess of $100 Million.
The agency shares its national streamgaging network with the public and river managers. This gives citizens the tools they need to protect their homes from flooding, and to judge whether rivers are too high or low for recreational activities such as fishing, wading, swimming, or boating. American Whitewater provides active links to this data here at www.americanwhitewater.org.
The USGS collects and shares streamflow data with the public for rivers all across the nation. Despite inadequate appropriations, they are working on providing real-time streamflow data for every river in every state. Rich Bowers, American Whitewater's Executive Director, expressed that "When this is complete it will be a thing of beauty."
Data is uploaded by satellite many times each day. The agency provides graphic images that show whether rivers are rising or falling, as well as information on temperature, historic flows, and other useful data. The agency also partners with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to predict rainfall and flooding. Timely access to river flow information has opened up America's river and streams for safe, responsible recreation.
Access Director Jason Robertson observed "This is the kind of irreplaceable program upon which our tax dollars should be spent."
Despite the importance of the streamgaging network for recreation, habitat preservation, water quality, agriculture, industry, water supply, navigation, flood hazard identification, and public safety the system is dangerously underfunded.
The USGS has recorded data from more than 18,000 gauges over the last century, of these sites only 7,200 were still in operation in 2000. In fact, twenty-two percent of streamgaging stations on small, free-flowing rivers have been closed since 1971.
American Whitewater, American Rivers, the American Canoe Association, and more than 500 other river-oriented conservation organizations are asking for Congress to provide USGS with $40 million earmarked for reviving the national streamgaging network in FY 2002. This is about four times the funding rate in FY 2000.
Appropriation & Funding History
FY'99 $6.5 Million
FY'00 $8.5 Million
FY'01 $10.2 Million/$11.6 Million (House/Senate requests as of 9/5/00)
At present, the nation's streamgaging network is funded through a partnership of about 800 state and local agencies and numerous federal agencies, including the USGS. Federal appropriations to the USGS for streamgaging provide only 6% of the total costs of the network. The remaining part is funded through a patchwork of cost-sharing arrangements with other federal, state, and local agencies. This dispersed funding has proven inadequate and restricts the delivery of important river information, with serious consequences for river health, research, safety, and recreation.
A single gauge, providing real-time data via satellite, costs between $8,000 and $20,000 to maintain each year. Due to their placement in dynamic flood-prone and often remote environments, the gauges require regular maintenance.
The USGS recently reported to Congress (http://water.usgs.gov/streamgaging/) that "We have increasing demands for information and yet the infrastructure to supply the information is declining… Real resources available to operate the streamgaging network have remained static and the USGS share of this funding has been declining [since the 1970's]… The needs for information continue to grow but current funding levels and arrangements will not provide the means for the USGS to enhance or even maintain [existing gauges]."
Every boater owes a huge thanks to the USGS for providing free streamgaging data over the Internet. In a recent USGS listening session, Robertson observed, "The timely availability of free streamgaging information has done more to promote whitewater recreation in the past decade than any other technological or marketing achievement besides the development of lightweight, affordable plastic boats. Access to information about water levels has helped millions of boaters plan vacations and enjoy America's rivers safely. This helps the economy, improves safety, and benefits the public."
For more information about the USGS check out: http://water.usgs.gov/realtime.html.