[NWS river forecasts are based, to a great extent, on data from USGS stream-gaging stations. The USGS operates most of its streamgages on a cooperative basis with other Federal, state, and local agencies that fund individual gaging stations for agency-specific projects or regulatory needs. Reductions in stream-gaging program funds, due to budget reductions for the USGS or for cooperating agencies, usually require that some stations be discontinued. Often such discontinuances adversely affect the NWS'S river forecasting program. ]