NWDTW 2024

Data Chiefs and Field Office Chiefs have an opportunity to meet on Monday (July 15) to discuss any and all issues facing our Hydrologic Networks staff. During the all-day meeting, we'll hear from the WMA, staff of the HNB, and other colleagues who lead efforts in FPS, training, CRP/AAA, and QA/QC. As important, an open forum will be provided to discuss the varied challenges (budgets; hiring; employee performance, advancement, and engagement) we all face in our Centers.

USGS is the largest provider of water information in the world, with over 8,600 active streamgages and more than 28,000 groundwater levels sites across the United States and outlying territories. 1,500 dedicated hydrologic technicians make these data possible. Just how many people see and access USGS water data? In this talk, we’ll explore 2024 analytics across USGS monitoring locations and through time, to uncover patterns, usage insights, and the most popular gages.

Mobile data collection has become common place in natural resources monitoring. Mobile data collection to map features (feature mapping) is the collection of data based on GPS location using tools that function across many mobile devices. This facilitates collective data efforts from many organizations and efficiently stores them in centralized datasets. This data collection method can be conducted across wide spatial and temporal scales and is easily implemented into ongoing fieldwork efforts. We have established two feature mapping mobile data collection tools for characterizing stream flow permanence and road-stream crossings. Our objective with these feature mapping efforts is to create usable and accessible peer reviewed, publicly available datasets to accompany easy to use assessment surveys.
We describe two collaboratively produced tools for efficient monitoring of headwater streams: FLOwPER and RoadxStr. FLOwPER (FLOw PERmanence) was developed by a team of scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management. FLOwPER allows rapid collection of stream flow permanence observations that are being applied to model probabilities of perennial flows in headwater streams. RoadxStr is a survey tool that effectively characterizes road-stream crossings. This tool was collaboratively developed with inputs from a national and regional (Pacific Northwest) group of biologists, hydrologists, geomorphologists, and road engineers representing several different government agencies and non-governmental organizations. The broad range of experience and expertise incorporated into RoadxStr ensures the data collected meets management needs while being transferable across existing road-stream crossing datasets. Preliminary results from field surveys indicate that FLOwPER and RoadxStr are capable of quickly producing thousands of new observations on critical features of streams across broad extents.

Continuous stage and temperature data were collected via commercially available, unvented and vented submersible pressure transducers (PTs) as ‘tiered’ gages co-located with United States Geological Survey reference gages in relatively small, low-order streams across the United States. Tiered gage data were compared with reference gage records to assess sensor performance variability across different installation methods, reaches, watersheds, and streamflow conditions. Sensor error was evaluated via differences between reference and tiered stage values through time and across variations in atmospheric pressure, barometer proximity, and water temperature. Finally, stage measurements from tiered and reference gages were used to estimate discharge and comparative accuracies evaluated. When installed and visited regularly with tape downs and levels, tiered gages can be pretty accurate! How accurate you ask? Well, please stop on by to see our presentation.

This session will provide an overview of various indirect measurement methods (slope-area, culvert flow, contracted openings) and guidance on identification of high-water marks, field survey procedures, and computing and analyzing indirect measurements of peak flow.

Annual peak streamflow data from USGS streamgages are a critical dataset engineers and hydrologists use for flood frequency analyses that inform bridge designs, floodplain maps, and other projects in and along rivers. Updated Federal guidelines for flood-frequency analysis (Bulletin 17C) were released in 2019, which allow for better use of information published by the USGS, such as censored (greater than or less than) data, and data sources outside of streamgage records, such as historic peaks. In this workshop, attendees will learn how annual peak-flow data are used, what peak flow qualification codes mean and when to use them, what flood information should be included in station descriptions and manuscripts in SIMS, the proper application of “highest since” notes to annual peaks, proper treatment of peak flows at crest-stage gages, and lots of other flood-related facts. An example streamgage will be analyzed with the PeakFQ software to demonstrate application of USGS data to a real-world flood-frequency problem.

A dynamic rating method called DYNPOUND, which accommodates compound and compact channel geometry, was developed to model hysteresis. From a pure hydrodynamics perspective, all rivers and streams have some form of hysteresis (loop effect) in the relation between stage and discharge because of unsteady flow as a flood wave passes. This dynamic rating method is capable of capturing hysteresis caused by variable energy slope, which is a result of unsteady momentum and pressure. The method and graphical user interface (GUI), which were written in the Python programming language, will be demonstrated. The GUI is intended for use by hydrographers to develop and validate ratings for complex sites. This presentation will briefly discuss the background, application, and workflow to operationalize the dynamic rating method for a gage.

Discuss the importance of well integrity and methods for evaluating.

How would you like to put satellites and the international space station to work for your water-quality projects? The availability of remote sensing tools for monitoring water quality continues to expand. This session will provide a primer on remote sensing for water quality, followed by several workflow examples based on use cases from the field. Examples will include tools developed just for you by the Remote Sensing for Water Quality project and related partnerships among Water Science Centers, the Water Mission Area, and the Hydrologic Remote Sensing Branch.

The introduction to satellites and water quality will overview types of data available from different satellite platforms including which satellites are related to which water-quality parameters. Workflows will cover where and how to access or request satellite data collection and demonstrate several tools. Examples include exploring historic and recent satellite imagery when developing a project sample plan, responding to on-the-ground conditions, and matching field data to satellite imagery. Imagery and related data products can be used to assess access for remote sites based on water levels and ice conditions. The wide spatial view can be used to confirm and track a developing algal bloom. Matching satellite data is important with prior field data, but future sampling can even be planned to coincide with some types of satellite data.

WMA tools include the “Satellite Overpass Calendar Tool” for paired satellite-field observations, the RSWQ dashboard, and improved imagery products for chlorophyll, turbidity, and temperature that are optimized specifically for water, instead of previous terrestrial products.