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Monitoring Streamflow in Remote Headwater Streams

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By Idaho Water Science Center April 7, 2020

Remote headwater streams are important sources of water that are not well understood. Working with other USGS science centers across the country, we are developing methods for estimating streamflow in these environments. Data from these efforts will contribute to improving our understanding of water availability and how drought may be affecting these stream ecosystems. 

Our study objectives are to:

  • Facilitate the selection, design, installation, and operation of ecohydraulic monitoring networks in headwater streams in drought-prone watersheds,
  • Advance monitoring techniques, their utility, supporting documentation, and data as a foundation for a USGS drought monitoring program, and
  • Document techniques that can be used to monitor streamflow in headwaters environments, particularly during low flows.
USGS hydrologist using velocity rod to estimate streamflow
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
A USGS hydrologist uses a velocity rod to estimate streamflow as part of a project to develop methods for monitoring streamflow in remote headwater streams.

The following other science projects are associated with this project.

link
Colorado Basin Focus Area Study carousel

Integrated Water Availability Assessments

The USGS Water Resources Mission Area is assessing how much water is available for human and ecological needs in the United States and identifying where and when the Nation may have challenges meeting its demand for water.
By
Water Resources Mission Area
link

Integrated Water Availability Assessments

The USGS Water Resources Mission Area is assessing how much water is available for human and ecological needs in the United States and identifying where and when the Nation may have challenges meeting its demand for water.
Learn More
link
Hallowat Creek abv Kletomus Ck, nr Olney (12355342) streamgage

EcoFlows: Understanding Streamflow Dynamics in Small Mountain Streams

The WY-MT WSC is collaborating with the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center to understand the dynamics of streamflows in small, mountain streams during the course of the year, and to describe the amount of variability associated with those measurements. These findings will assist fisheries biologists who are researching temperature and streamflow effects on cutthroat trout and will help...
By
Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center
link

EcoFlows: Understanding Streamflow Dynamics in Small Mountain Streams

The WY-MT WSC is collaborating with the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center to understand the dynamics of streamflows in small, mountain streams during the course of the year, and to describe the amount of variability associated with those measurements. These findings will assist fisheries biologists who are researching temperature and streamflow effects on cutthroat trout and will help...
Learn More
link
Researchers use backpack electrofishing to sample fish

Integrated Ecohydrological Science in the Northern Rocky Mountains — the variability of water availability and the effects on ecosystems

Our primary goal is to better understand and characterize how stream environments and the ecosystems they support are influenced by climate change and drought in the Northern Rocky Mountains.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
link

Integrated Ecohydrological Science in the Northern Rocky Mountains — the variability of water availability and the effects on ecosystems

Our primary goal is to better understand and characterize how stream environments and the ecosystems they support are influenced by climate change and drought in the Northern Rocky Mountains.
Learn More

The following datasets are associated with this project.

Measurements of Discharge in Small, Low-Flowing Streams Using Multiple Techniques

The accompanying datasets include all field measurements collected as part of a study to evaluate multiple streamflow measurement techniques in small streams throughout the United States. Each individual dataset is paired with a metadata record describing the contents and purpose of that dataset.
By
Idaho Water Science Center

The following publications are associated with this project.

Evaluation of select velocity measurement techniques for estimating discharge in small streams across the United States

Multiple instruments and methods exist for collecting discrete streamflow measurements in small streams with low flows, defined here as less than 5.7 m3/s (200 ft3/s). Included in the available methods are low-cost approaches that are infrequently used, in part, because their uncertainty is not well known. In this work, we evaluated the accuracy and suitability of three low-cost velocity measureme
Authors
Tyler Victor King, Stephen Hundt, Amy E. Simonson, Kyle W. Blasch
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Idaho Water Science Center, New York Water Science Center

Laboratory assessment of alternative stream velocity measurement methods

Understanding streamflow in montane watersheds on regional scales is often incomplete due to a lack of data for small-order streams that link precipitation and snowmelt processes to main stem discharge. This data deficiency is attributed to the prohibitive cost of conventional streamflow measurement methods and the remote location of many small streams. Expedient and low-cost streamflow measuremen
Authors
Stephen Hundt, Kyle W. Blasch
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Idaho Water Science Center

Remote headwater streams are important sources of water that are not well understood. Working with other USGS science centers across the country, we are developing methods for estimating streamflow in these environments. Data from these efforts will contribute to improving our understanding of water availability and how drought may be affecting these stream ecosystems. 

Our study objectives are to:

  • Facilitate the selection, design, installation, and operation of ecohydraulic monitoring networks in headwater streams in drought-prone watersheds,
  • Advance monitoring techniques, their utility, supporting documentation, and data as a foundation for a USGS drought monitoring program, and
  • Document techniques that can be used to monitor streamflow in headwaters environments, particularly during low flows.
USGS hydrologist using velocity rod to estimate streamflow
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
A USGS hydrologist uses a velocity rod to estimate streamflow as part of a project to develop methods for monitoring streamflow in remote headwater streams.

The following other science projects are associated with this project.

link
Colorado Basin Focus Area Study carousel

Integrated Water Availability Assessments

The USGS Water Resources Mission Area is assessing how much water is available for human and ecological needs in the United States and identifying where and when the Nation may have challenges meeting its demand for water.
By
Water Resources Mission Area
link

Integrated Water Availability Assessments

The USGS Water Resources Mission Area is assessing how much water is available for human and ecological needs in the United States and identifying where and when the Nation may have challenges meeting its demand for water.
Learn More
link
Hallowat Creek abv Kletomus Ck, nr Olney (12355342) streamgage

EcoFlows: Understanding Streamflow Dynamics in Small Mountain Streams

The WY-MT WSC is collaborating with the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center to understand the dynamics of streamflows in small, mountain streams during the course of the year, and to describe the amount of variability associated with those measurements. These findings will assist fisheries biologists who are researching temperature and streamflow effects on cutthroat trout and will help...
By
Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center
link

EcoFlows: Understanding Streamflow Dynamics in Small Mountain Streams

The WY-MT WSC is collaborating with the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center to understand the dynamics of streamflows in small, mountain streams during the course of the year, and to describe the amount of variability associated with those measurements. These findings will assist fisheries biologists who are researching temperature and streamflow effects on cutthroat trout and will help...
Learn More
link
Researchers use backpack electrofishing to sample fish

Integrated Ecohydrological Science in the Northern Rocky Mountains — the variability of water availability and the effects on ecosystems

Our primary goal is to better understand and characterize how stream environments and the ecosystems they support are influenced by climate change and drought in the Northern Rocky Mountains.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
link

Integrated Ecohydrological Science in the Northern Rocky Mountains — the variability of water availability and the effects on ecosystems

Our primary goal is to better understand and characterize how stream environments and the ecosystems they support are influenced by climate change and drought in the Northern Rocky Mountains.
Learn More

The following datasets are associated with this project.

Measurements of Discharge in Small, Low-Flowing Streams Using Multiple Techniques

The accompanying datasets include all field measurements collected as part of a study to evaluate multiple streamflow measurement techniques in small streams throughout the United States. Each individual dataset is paired with a metadata record describing the contents and purpose of that dataset.
By
Idaho Water Science Center

The following publications are associated with this project.

Evaluation of select velocity measurement techniques for estimating discharge in small streams across the United States

Multiple instruments and methods exist for collecting discrete streamflow measurements in small streams with low flows, defined here as less than 5.7 m3/s (200 ft3/s). Included in the available methods are low-cost approaches that are infrequently used, in part, because their uncertainty is not well known. In this work, we evaluated the accuracy and suitability of three low-cost velocity measureme
Authors
Tyler Victor King, Stephen Hundt, Amy E. Simonson, Kyle W. Blasch
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Idaho Water Science Center, New York Water Science Center

Laboratory assessment of alternative stream velocity measurement methods

Understanding streamflow in montane watersheds on regional scales is often incomplete due to a lack of data for small-order streams that link precipitation and snowmelt processes to main stem discharge. This data deficiency is attributed to the prohibitive cost of conventional streamflow measurement methods and the remote location of many small streams. Expedient and low-cost streamflow measuremen
Authors
Stephen Hundt, Kyle W. Blasch
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Idaho Water Science Center
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