AW has learned that the rumors that many popular WV streamgages will be cut are true. We have contacted the USGS and are discussing ways that we can assist. If you would like to help, then contact:
USGS EXPECTS TO CEASE OPERATIONS AT 18GAGING STATIONS ON OCTOBER 31, 2002 Since 1887, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has operated a National Streamgage Network to collect information about the Nation’s water resources. Under this program, the USGS collects the streamflow data needed by Federal, State, and local agencies for water-resource planning and management activities including predicting magnitude and frequency of floods and droughts, determining 100 year flood plains, evaluating and allocating water for public and industrial supplies, designing highways and dams, and permitting sewage and industrial discharges. Real-time streamflow gages are also used to monitor floods and droughts, and for planning recreational activities such as fishing and boating. Reduction in Cooperative FundingAs in other parts of the country, the Streamgage Network for West Virginia is funded through a cooperative effort in which the USGS collects and disseminates streamflow information and shares the cost with other Federal, State and local agencies. Recent reductions the State matching funds for the network in the Cooperative Water Program are expected to result in discontinuation of 18 streamgages in West Virginia, unless alternative-funding sources can be found. These streamgages are:
Details on the sites above are available. |
AW volunteers Adam Cramer, John Tingerthal, Don Kinser, and Tom O’Keefe prepared the following messages for to send to USGS and Department of Tourism. Please feel free to crib from them and send some more emails. Dear USGS and West Virginia Division of Tourism: I understand that operation of some of the river gauges inWest Virginia, such as the Blackwater gauge, might be terminated. Thiswould be a great loss for the East Coast angling and whitewatercommunities, as well as West Virginia’s tourism industry. Speaking as a kayaker, I use the gauges as a critical tripplanning tool because these rivers are runnable only at certain waterlevels (e.g., the upper section of the Blackwater is generally run between150 and 400 CFS). Although the northern part of West Virginia offers someof the best and most scenic whitewater runs in North America, without areliable gauge reading via the internet, I would make substantially lessvisits throughout the year (I live in Washington, D.C., a 3 to 4 hourdrive). More importantly, terminating these gauge operations wouldadversely impact West Virginia’s tourism industry. Upon a favorable gaugereading, I’ll likely make the trip with 3 to 4 other people (mostly fromthe DC area), and we’ll each spend at least $50 to $60 in West Virginia ongas, food and lodging. Moreover, these trips often take place throughoutthe year — not just during the typical summer tourist season. Please do not terminate these gauges. I am upset that the USGS is cutting many of the West Virginia river gages.I use these gages to plan kayaking trips to West Virginia. As a resident ofChicago, that means 10 to 12 hours of driving. I spend at least 6 weekendsout of the year visiting this area. The gages provide extremely importantinformation for me and I would hate to see them go. I have just learned that recent reductions in state matching funds is expected to result in discontinuation of 18 stream gauges in West Virginia effective October 31, 2002. Each year I typically visit northeastern West Virginia three time a year, totaling nearly 20 days, to enjoy the awesome whitewater rivers and streams of your great state. The 18 impacted gauges are on some of the best whitewater streams in West Virginia. I am very upset to learn of this situation because I rely on these gauging stations in my trip planning and in determining my itinerary. I estimate my family and I spend nearly a thousand dollars each year on gas, lodging, meals, etc on these whitewater paddling trips. Without the reliable information provided by these gauges I will be less willing to travel the great distance from my home in Georgia on the chance that the rivers I want to paddle have adequate flow. You should understand that gauges are extremely valuable to West Virginia’s tourism industry and that funding should be restored to insure these gauges remain operational. USGS District Chief: I have recently been notified that several important USGS gauges inthe state of West Virginia will be cut from the national streamgagingnetwork at the end of this month. In addition to their important rolein safety and providing a long-term data record of high value tohydrologists, several of the gages are extremely important forrecreational river users. Although I live on the west coast, I havetaken two trips to West Virginia over the past year specifically forthe purpose of whitewater kayaking. In both cases access to thereal-time gage data was a major factor in planning my trip (duringthe trip I took in March the data provided caused us to make alast-minute change in plans to paddle the West Virginia streamsrather than others we had originally planned to visit in NorthCarolina). In short, access to the discharge data greatly enhancedthe quality of my experience and the efficiency of my trip. Havingaccess to these data is often the deciding factor in whether a shorttrip to the east coast is worthwhile for me (I most typically fly outfor a long weekend). My two trips this year to West Virginia represented a totalcontribution of well over $1000 to the local and national economy. Oneach trip I spent approximately $300 on a plane flight, $125 in localtravel expenses, $80 in lodging/camping, $150 in meals/food, and $100in miscellaneous items. Since we were traveling in a group, theothers I traveled with made similar financial contributions to localtourism. While I recognize that funding is tight and difficult choices have tomade, I ask you to carefully consider the value of the stream gagingprogram for whitewater recreation in West Virginia. The annual costof maintaining a station is very small compared to the benefitrealized by users like myself from across the country. It’sunfortunate that while you have made considerable improvements in theaccessibility of your data (without a doubt the USGS providesgovernment-funded data in the most useful and accessible format ofany agency web site–you truly set the standard!), funding theinstrumentation and personnel to maintain it has become such achallenge. I ask that you work closely with American Whitewater and localpaddlers in identifying gages that are of primary importance to riverrecreation and explore creative solutions for continued maintenanceof these important stations. |