Welcome to the U.S. Geological Survey's National Streamflow Information Program (NSIP) web page. The USGS operates and maintains approximately 7,500 streamgages which provide long-term, accurate, and unbiased information on streamflow to meet the needs of many diverse users. For information about how streamflow data is used, see http://water.usgs.gov/nsip/streamflow_info.html. The USGS streamgaging network is currently funded in partnership with over 800 Federal, State, and local agencies. For more information on streamgage funding, see http://water.usgs.gov/nsip/funding.html.
The mission of NSIP is to provide the streamflow information and understanding required to meet local, State, regional, and national needs. To see the five goals of NSIP, see http://water.usgs.gov/nsip/goals.html. The plan for NSIP was developed to provide a National perspective, guidance, planning, and leadership to the streamgaging activities of the USGS. To provide streamflow information to meet national needs, the information obtained from these streamgages needs to be consistent, obtained using standard techniques and technology, and be subject to the same quality assurance and quality control. The NSIP plan provides for a unified network to meet National, reginal, and local needs of streamflow information.
NSIP is designed with five goals, one of which is to provide a "backbone" or core of streamgages that are critical to national streamgflow information needs and that would be funded totally with Federal funds. The NSIP was created in response to Congressional and stakeholder concerns about (1) a loss of streamgages, (2) a disproportionate loss of streamgages with a long period of record, (3) the inability of the USGS to continue operating high-priority streamgages when partners discontinue funding and (4) the increasing demand for streamflow information due to new resource-management issues and new data-delivery capabilities.
If you have questions about the US Geological Survey National Streamflow Information Program in general please contact Mike Norris (603-226-7847; mnorris@usgs.gov) or Steve Blanchard (703-648-5629; sfblanch@usgs.gov).
