The USGS maintains and monitors hundreds of streamgages across California, as well as across the Nation. Nearly all data collected by the USGS is made public and most in near real-time. Cities can use the data for flood mitigation and water supply.
To help emergency managers and others protect life and property due to floods and other water-related hazards, the USGS delivers a continuous source of streamflow information. The U.S. Geological Survey has been measuring streamflow in the U.S. for over 120 years. We operate more than 7,500 streamgages in the U.S. and nearly 500 in California that collect data to determine the amount of water flowing in rivers and streams. Automatic alerts are transmitted when water levels change rapidly and/or reach flood stage. These alerts help emergency managers assess potential hazardous conditions near the gage or for downstream locations.
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
California Streamgage Network
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Streamgage sites provide continuous scientific data such as water level (stage) and flow rate, chemistry, and temperature in the Nation’s rivers. This critical information is used for many purposes, from flood forecasting to recreational planning. Water agencies rely on this information to assess the availability and quality of water supplies. It also helps us understand how streams are affected by human activities and by climate change.
See Current California Water Conditions >>
Automated Local Evaluation in Real-Time (ALERT) Gages
Many of the USGS streamgages in California are Automated Local Evaluation in Real-Time (ALERT) gages. ALERT gages are designed to send an automated warning when water levels reaches predetermined levels or change rapidly.
These water levels can signify potentially hazardous conditions for downstream locations. ALERT data are streamed in real-time to the National Water Information System (NWIS-web), and are used by the National Weather Service for model forecasting and to issue flood warnings.
The USGS California Water Science Center recently added several ALERT gages and precipitation stations in the burn areas of the Valley and Butte Wildfires to help monitor the potential for mudslides and debris flows, and to provide early flood warning to downstream areas.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Floods in California
Throughout the nation, the USGS operates a streamgage network in near real-time that helps emergency managers and others protect life and property due to floods and other water-related hazards. The USGS California Water Science Center maintains nearly 500 streamgages that provides key streamflow and water level data for flood forecasters, the public, and emergency managers at the federal, state...
Flood Inundation Mapping Science
When planning for a flood, there are three key questions that must be answered: What areas will be flooded? How deep will the flood waters get? When will the flood arrive? Historical flooding can help a community anticipate how much impact similar flood events could have, but there are other methods and tools that can provide more accurate and nuanced estimations of a wide variety of flood...
Flood Inundation Mapping (FIM) Program
Floods are the leading cause of natural-disaster losses in the U.S. More than 75 percent of declared Federal disasters are related to floods, and annual flood losses average almost $8 billion with over 90 fatalities per year. Although the amount of fatalities has declined due to improved early warning systems, economic losses continue to rise with increased urbanization in flood-hazard areas.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Measuring Stream Discharge with Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler
The USGS maintains and monitors hundreds of streamgages across California, as well as across the Nation. Nearly all data collected by the USGS is made public and most in near real-time. Cities can use the data for flood mitigation and water supply.
Streamgages: The Silent Superhero
Whether you drink water from your tap, use electricity or canoe down your local river, chances are you benefit from USGS streamgage information. So what is a streamgage and what does it do for you? This CoreCast episode gives you the inside scoop on your silent superhero.
Transcript and captions available soon.
Whether you drink water from your tap, use electricity or canoe down your local river, chances are you benefit from USGS streamgage information. So what is a streamgage and what does it do for you? This CoreCast episode gives you the inside scoop on your silent superhero.
Transcript and captions available soon.
To help emergency managers and others protect life and property due to floods and other water-related hazards, the USGS delivers a continuous source of streamflow information. The U.S. Geological Survey has been measuring streamflow in the U.S. for over 120 years. We operate more than 7,500 streamgages in the U.S. and nearly 500 in California that collect data to determine the amount of water flowing in rivers and streams. Automatic alerts are transmitted when water levels change rapidly and/or reach flood stage. These alerts help emergency managers assess potential hazardous conditions near the gage or for downstream locations.
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
California Streamgage Network
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Streamgage sites provide continuous scientific data such as water level (stage) and flow rate, chemistry, and temperature in the Nation’s rivers. This critical information is used for many purposes, from flood forecasting to recreational planning. Water agencies rely on this information to assess the availability and quality of water supplies. It also helps us understand how streams are affected by human activities and by climate change.
See Current California Water Conditions >>
Automated Local Evaluation in Real-Time (ALERT) Gages
Many of the USGS streamgages in California are Automated Local Evaluation in Real-Time (ALERT) gages. ALERT gages are designed to send an automated warning when water levels reaches predetermined levels or change rapidly.
These water levels can signify potentially hazardous conditions for downstream locations. ALERT data are streamed in real-time to the National Water Information System (NWIS-web), and are used by the National Weather Service for model forecasting and to issue flood warnings.
The USGS California Water Science Center recently added several ALERT gages and precipitation stations in the burn areas of the Valley and Butte Wildfires to help monitor the potential for mudslides and debris flows, and to provide early flood warning to downstream areas.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Floods in California
Throughout the nation, the USGS operates a streamgage network in near real-time that helps emergency managers and others protect life and property due to floods and other water-related hazards. The USGS California Water Science Center maintains nearly 500 streamgages that provides key streamflow and water level data for flood forecasters, the public, and emergency managers at the federal, state...
Flood Inundation Mapping Science
When planning for a flood, there are three key questions that must be answered: What areas will be flooded? How deep will the flood waters get? When will the flood arrive? Historical flooding can help a community anticipate how much impact similar flood events could have, but there are other methods and tools that can provide more accurate and nuanced estimations of a wide variety of flood...
Flood Inundation Mapping (FIM) Program
Floods are the leading cause of natural-disaster losses in the U.S. More than 75 percent of declared Federal disasters are related to floods, and annual flood losses average almost $8 billion with over 90 fatalities per year. Although the amount of fatalities has declined due to improved early warning systems, economic losses continue to rise with increased urbanization in flood-hazard areas.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Measuring Stream Discharge with Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler
The USGS maintains and monitors hundreds of streamgages across California, as well as across the Nation. Nearly all data collected by the USGS is made public and most in near real-time. Cities can use the data for flood mitigation and water supply.
The USGS maintains and monitors hundreds of streamgages across California, as well as across the Nation. Nearly all data collected by the USGS is made public and most in near real-time. Cities can use the data for flood mitigation and water supply.
Streamgages: The Silent Superhero
Whether you drink water from your tap, use electricity or canoe down your local river, chances are you benefit from USGS streamgage information. So what is a streamgage and what does it do for you? This CoreCast episode gives you the inside scoop on your silent superhero.
Transcript and captions available soon.
Whether you drink water from your tap, use electricity or canoe down your local river, chances are you benefit from USGS streamgage information. So what is a streamgage and what does it do for you? This CoreCast episode gives you the inside scoop on your silent superhero.
Transcript and captions available soon.