Streamflow and Streamgaging

Streamgaging and the USGS

Streamgages are established at sites to monitor river water levels. This information is then used to make discharge estimates using a rating curve. The rating curve relates discharge to measured water levels, and is obtained from periodic measurements (i.e., several times per year) of water levels, discharge, and channel characteristics at the streamgage site. Most streamgages are maintained by the U. S. Geological Survey (Water Resources Division), often in cooperation with other federal, state, or local government agencies.

The following are links to the USGS (WRD) and information on their streamgaging program: Streamgage data are available from the USGS online: Note that real-time data include streamflow and stage measurements for the past week; these are considered provisional and may be adjusted to account for shifts in the rating curve before the data are published. The historical data contains only the finalized data records. These data are also published each year for each state in Water Resources Data.

Streamgaging and Discharge Measurement Images

Streamgages in Iowa

Discharge Measurement Techniques

Last changed on 01/07/14 by Gabriele Villarini.