Frequently Asked Questions
- How can I obtain streamflow and ground-water
level data?
- What is stream stage and how does it relate
to depth or discharge?
- How do I get low-flow and flood frequency
statistics?
- How do I obtain a USGS topographic map?
- How do I obtain a USGS publication?
- How do I obtain satellite images?
- How do I obtain an aerial photograph?
- How can I get information on earthquakes?
- How do I obtain information on projects
and activities of the USGS in Wisconsin?
- How can I get information on job openings
in the USGS?
- Where can I get precipitation and air
temperature data?
- Where can I get data on soils?
- Where can I get geologic maps?
- How do I get information on wetlands?
- How can I get information on flood plains?
- How do I get data on map projections
and other data on how USGS maps are made?
- Where can I get information on benchmarks?
- Where can I get the water from my local
well tested?
- Where can I get information on the health
effects of radon and other substances in water?
- Where can I find water-quality standards
that apply to streams in Wisconsin?
- Where can I find standards for drinking
water in Wisconsin?
- Where can I find information on fish
consumption advisories for Wisconsin?
- Where in Wisconsin are USGS Water Resources
Division Offices located?
- Where do I obtain spatial data layers
for Wisconsin for use in a Geographic Information System (GIS)?
- During the winter when streams are ice-covered,
the stream discharge for my river is not shown on the real-time streamflow page.
Why not?
Q1. How can I obtain streamflow and ground-water
level data?
A. Much of the historical data and current data
for many stations in Wisconsin can be accessed on the Water Data page.
If you do not have ready access to the
World Wide Web, call or write the USGS Wisconsin Data Section Chief:
Supervisory Hydrologist, Hydrologic Data Section
USGS Wisconsin Water Science Center
8505 Research Way
Middleton, WI 53562
Tel: 608-828-9901
Fax: 608-821-3817
Q2. What is stream stage and how does it relate to
depth or discharge?
A. Stage at a gaging station is the height of the water
surface of the stream (or lake) measured from an arbitrary datum that is usually
below the elevation of the lowest expected range of stage or near the stream
bottom. Therefore, stage may sometimes be close to the depth of water at the
gage but not always so, depending on where the arbitrary "zero" of the datum
is placed. Mean sea level elevation of the water surface may be calculated by
adding the recorded stage at the gage to the elevation of the gage datum, where
it has been determined.
At each station there is a relationship developed,
the stage-discharge relation, which is used continuously to compute discharge
in cubic feet per second from stage (gage height). The relationship is developed
over time by correlating discharge measurements made over a range of flows with
stage. This relation varies from station to station, and from time to time. It
can shift with shifting sediment in the channel, with growth and decay of weeds
in the water, or with ice cover in the winter. If there is a logjam or icejam
in the channel the relation may not apply at all.
Q3. How do I get low-flow and flood frequency statistics?
A. Limited statistics are published in the annual data reports
entitled "Water Resources Data Wisconsin Water Year XXXX". For updated statistics
at gaged locations contact the Hydrologic Data Section Chief (see question 1).
Q4. How do I obtain a USGS topographic map?
A. First identify the quadrangles you need from the state
index, which can be obtained from the USGS by calling 1-888-ASK-USGS or from
the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey by calling 608-262-1705.
Index maps for Wisconsin and surrounding states are also available in local USGS
offices for viewing only (see question 23). Maps may be ordered from:
USGS Information Services
Box 25286
Denver Federal Center
Denver, CO 80225
Tel: 888-ASK-USGS or 303-202-4700
FAX 303-202-4693
Maps may also be purchased locally from commercial dealers (see your yellow pages).
More information is available on the WWW at http://mapping.usgs.gov/
Q5. How do I obtain a USGS publication?
A. A list of publications Wisconsin is available on the
District Public Home Page (see question 1). To obtain copies of Wisconsin
District publications contact Michelle Greenwood (mmgreenw@usgs.gov;
phone 608-821-3815). For formal series publications such as Water Supply Paper,
Professional Papers, and Bulletins contact USGS Information Services (see question
4).
Q6. How do I obtain satellite images?
A. Contact:
Customer Services
USGS, EROS Data Center
Sioux Falls, SD 57198
Tel: 605-594-6151,
Or see the EROS Data Center's web page at http://edcwww.cr.usgs.gov/eros-home.html.
Q7. How do I obtain an aerial photograph?
A. Call 1-888-ASK-USGS or contact EROS Data Center (see question 6), Or see the EROS Data Center's web page at http://edcwww.cr.usgs.gov/eros-home.html.
Q8. How can I get information on earthquakes?
A. Historical data on major earthquakes in the U.S. is published
in Professional Paper 1527. For other earthquake information contact:
USGS
National Earthquake Information Center
Box 25046, DFC, MS967
Denver, CO 80225
Tel: 303-273-8500
Fax: 303-273-8450
More information is available on the WWW at http://wwwneic.cr.usgs.gov/.
Q9. How do I obtain information on projects and activities
of the USGS in Wisconsin?
A. You may request a copy of "Water-Resources Investigations
in Wisconsin" from Michelle Greenwood (see question 5). See also project
information on this website. Q10. Where can I find information about jobs with
the USGS?
A. Visit the USGS Employment Page at http://www.usgs.gov/ohr/.
There you will find information on current job openings, student employment,
volunteer opportunities, and you can also submit your application online.
Q11. Where can I get precipitation and air temperature
data?
A. Contact NOAA at:
National Climatic Data Center
Room 120
151 Patton Avenue
Ashville, NC 28801-5001
Tel: 704-271-4800
Fax: 704-271-4876.
Monthly precipitation data is available on the web at http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/coop-precip.
Q12. Where can I get data on soils?
A. See the USDA
Natural Resources Conservation Service web page.
The US
Soil Survey is now almost completely online and this application allows online
viewing of soil survey maps and reports.
A list of published soil surveys is available on the WWW at http://soils.usda.gov/survey/printed_surveys/
For county-level digital soils data, try the Soil
Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO); for state level digital data see the State
Soils Geographic Database (STATSGO)
Q13. Where can I get geologic maps?
A. Generally, the Wisconsin
Geological and Natural History Survey is the best source for geologic maps
of Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey
3817 Mineral Point Rd.
Madison, WI 53705-5100
TEL: 608/262.1705 FAX: 608/262.8086
To order maps published by the USGS contact USGS Information Services
(see question 4).
Q14. How do I get information on wetlands?
A. Visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetland
Inventory home page at http://www.nwi.fws.gov/
or the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Water
and Wetland Permits web page.
Q15. How can I get information on flood plains and
flood plain maps?
A. For information about floodplain delineation and where
to order floodplain maps, go to the Federal Emergency
Management Agency's (FEMA) web site. FEMA is the national agency that maps
and delineates floodplains.
Q16. How do I get data on map projections and other
data on how USGS maps are made?
A. See the book "Maps for America" published by the USGS.
(See question 4 to order this book).
Q17. Where can I get information on benchmarks?
A. For information about USGS benchmarks, contact:
1-888-ASK-USGS
http://ask.usgs.gov/
If you need to report that a USGS Benchmark has been or is about
to be destroyed call 573-308-3808.
If you need information on a National Geodetic Survey [formerly
Coast and Geodetic Survey (C&GS)] benchmark contact:
National Geodetic Survey, N/NGS12
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282
Tel: 301-713-3242
Fax: 301-713-4172
http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/ - Click on products and services)
Q18. Where can I get the water from my local well
tested?
A. Look under laboratories in the yellow pages of your local
telephone book for water testing services. Prices vary among companies and will
depend on the test you request.
Q19. Where can I get information on the health
effects of radon and other substances in water?
A. Call the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Safe Drinking
Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or visit the EPA's Office of Ground Water and Drinking
Water web site at http://www.epa.gov/safewater.
Q20. Where can I find water-quality standards that
apply to streams in Wisconsin?
A. Visit the Water
Quality Standards and Policy page on the Wisconsin DNR website.
Q21. Where can I find standards for drinking water
in Wisconsin?
A. A list of regulated contaminants, their maximum contaminant
levels and their health effects for Wisconsin residents is available at http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/dwg/health/table.html
Q22. Where can I find information on fish consumption
advisories for Wisconsin?
A. Look on the WWW at Health
Information for Eating Wisconsin Fish
Q23. Where in Wisconsin are USGS Wisconsin Water
Science Center's Offices located?
A. Check out the maps on these pages to get directions.
Q24. Where do I obtain spatial data layers for
Wisconsin for use in a Geographic Information System (GIS)?
A. Spatial data are available from a variety of sources.
See our GIS resources page.
For watershed-boundary coverages, we recommend the Wisconsin DNR GIS page http://dnr.wi.gov/maps/gis/.
Additional GIS coverages are available from the USGS
GIS home page.
Q25. During the winter when streams are ice-covered,
the stream discharge for my river is not shown on the real-time streamflow page.
Why not?
A. Many of our rivers in Wisconsin are frozen and
affected by ice during the winter. Thus, the discharges computed from the stage/discharge
relation (see Question 2) are meaningless. Therefore
it is now our policy not to show the discharges on our web site over the ice-affected
period because the discharges are not correct and would be misleading. These
stations are identified by [ice] in the flow column in the current conditions
table. After the ice goes out in the spring, these streams will again be showing
current discharge.
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