Surface Water Data Sample Clauses

Surface Water Data. A few agencies in the region collect surface water information. Water level data is most commonly collected. At many sites, flow/discharge information is also collected. The following sections discuss the regional surface water data collection program. 3.2.1. Water levels Water levels are typically collected in streams as part of a stream flow monitoring program. In addition, water levels are also collected in streams to support flood protection activities, and in reservoirs to assist with daily operations. 3.2.1.1. Streams There are two agencies that collect stream flow information in the region: the San ▇▇▇▇ Obispo County, and the United States Geological Survey. Regional water level measurement sites are shown in the following figure. The County has records of various length from over 30 stream gauging stations, including six stations that were acquired from the USGS. Currently, 18 stream gauge stations located throughout San ▇▇▇▇ Obispo County are maintained the County Public Works Department. Each of the gauge stations measure the depth of flow or “stage” of the stream which can be used to estimate the stream discharge at the gauge location. These sites are maintained to support County reservoir operations, flood control, and other water resources purposes. Most of the County gauges are on coastal creeks and rivers, with the exception one gauge on the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ River, just downstream of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Dam, as shown below. For more information of the County’s Stream Gauges, go to: ▇▇▇▇://▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇/site/Water%20Resources/Data/maps/stream-flow.htm. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) stream-gauging program provides streamflow data for a variety of purposes that range from current needs, such as flood forecasting, to future or long- term needs, such as detection of changes in streamflow due to human activities or global warming. The development of data on the flow of the Nation's rivers mirrors the development of the country. From the establishment of the first stream-gauging station operated by the USGS in 1889, this program has grown to include 7,292 stations in operation as of 1994. Data from the active stations, as well as from discontinued stations, are stored in a computer data base that currently holds mean daily-discharge data for about 18,500 locations and more than 400,000 station-years of record. The stream-discharge data base is an ever-growing resource for water resources planning and design, hydrologic research, and operation of water ...