Why a National Streamflow Information Program?
In 1998, Congress expressed concern about the health of the USGS Streamgaging Network, based on a decline in the number of streamgages while the need for streamflow information was increasing. The USGS prepared a report to Congress to respond to their concerns which stated that the networks ability to meet long standing Federal goals had declined because of (1) an absolute loss of streamgages, (2) a disproportionate loss of streamgages with a long period of record, and (3) the declining ability of USGS to continue operating high priority streamgages when partners discontinue funding. The report to Congress, "A New Evaluation of the USGS Streamgaging Network," also stated that new resource management issues and new data-delivery capabilities have increase the demand for streamflow information and that new technologies and methodologies need to be developed and implemented to improve reliability of the streamflow information and to decrease the cost and uncertainity of this information.
