Alaska Surface Water Data

Surface Water Retrieval

• Current Alaska Streamflow Conditions-- via satellite or phone modem
• Historical Streamflow Data: search for station name, get a  list of counties (see warning)
• Request Surface Water data via email
• National Information on Surface Water
• Index of Streamflow Data

Alaska Surface Water Specialist

• Dave Meyer

Current Surface Water Stations

The USGS currently maintains about 88 full time stream-gaging stations in Alaska and about 40 "partial-record" stations used for peak flow data collection. Data for some of these sites are available in real-time. Historical surface-water data are available in a computerized data base for about 2,600 sites. Streamflow data collected by the USGS are used by Federal, State and local water-resource managers for fisheries management, flood forecasting, and low-flow water availability information, as well as by recreational users such as rafters, kayakers, and fishermen. USGS surface-water data are used to help design bridges and culverts and are used for flood-frequency calculations needed by Federal, State and local planners.

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WARNING...

Historical surface-water data retrieved may not be accurate, due to some problems in the computer database. The problem with incorrect basin names, elevations, and drainage areas has been corrected. Although the problem with incomplete periods of record is greatly improved, there are still some problems with it. If you encounter any known discrepancies regarding these data, please E-mail Surface-Water Specialist.

To verify information:

1. Cross-check the information with published reports ("Water Resources Data for Alaska--water year 199X: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Data Report AK-9X-1, where 199X is the year of interest)
   or
2. Send email to the Alaska Surface-Water Specialist.

Request Surface Water data via email