Buck Hollow Gauge To Be Discontinued Jan 1

[steve l]

Due to lack of funding per a message on the gauge website. That is too bad, and given how the JF floods might be nice for the campers at Alley to know. But there it is...

[moguy1973]

How, much funding is really needed for these gauges? I mean they pretty much just sit there and do their thing, sending the data back to the USSG site without anyone having to do anything. You have to wonder what the maintainance schedule on one of those is. I'm betting they don't look after them much unless they stop transmitting data or the gauge gets damaged in a flood.

[Guest]

deleted.

[Kelroy]

Every gage in our network is visited monthly for service- to check inside/outside calibration, download on-site data, change out batteries, and to make discharge measurements to update and/or verify the accuracy of the stage/discharge relation as put forth on the web. A few of the gages still operate on compressed nitrogen, and those systems need a little additional upkeep. So when you think about the costs involved, you need to factor in replacement parts and spare equipment, laptop or pda plus measurement software, acoustic doppler current profile equipment (handheld for wading measurements, line-towed 'boats' for working off a bridge, boat-mounted units for big rivers), hip boots, chest waders, life jackets, rain gear, fall-arrest equipment and other OSHA-required safety gear, GSA fleet vehicle operating expenses, fuel expense, meal and motel per diem costs, field technician salary expense, salary for supervisory review and approval of data and records, computer hardware and software to process, edit, and archive measurement data, year-end publishing costs (since this is public domain data we are required to publish yearly summaries, available on cd now), and the cost of satellite bandwidth to receive, relay, and download data via hourly transmission. All of these costs must be factored into the maintenance of each transmitting gage installation.

Since we are only partially-funded through the federal government, we rely heavily on 'cooperators,' such as DNR, USCG, NWS, MDC, NPS, USACE, and various other federal, state, and municipal sources to keep our network running. Our federal share has already been frozen or reduced the last few years, and state and local budgets have suffered likewise. So when a cooperator doesn't have the required funding to maintain all of their gages, and if we can't make up the difference by cutting somewhere else, something has to go. We don't like doing it, as it is inconvenient to everyone who uses and relies on our data; it imposes a hardship on the very public we strive to serve.

Not trying to make excuses, but gage operation and maintenance require a lot more money than most people realize.

[Greasy B]

Thanks for the explanation.

[steve l]

Good explanation. But I would sure close the gauge measuring the flow at Greer (the spring flow, not the river flow) on the 11p before Buck Hollow. That gauge is practically useless. With Alley Spring campground in prime flash flood territory the Buck Hollow gauge serves a real purpose.

[Al Agnew]

Seems to me like funding could be sought from users. A figure per gauge per year could be established, and fishing and canoeing clubs, canoe liveries, local chambers of commerce, and anybody else who uses the gauges could pool resources to make up the shortfall.

The Buck Hollow gauge is a little bit redundant for people like me, though. I can get the same general info from the Alley gauge, since it's above Alley Spring, and when the river is reasonably stable, there's not a huge amount of difference in the flow between Buck Hollow and Alley. Where the Buck Hollow gauge is really important, though, and probably much more important than the Alley gauge, is in early warning for flash flooding.

[countryred]

Hate to see that one go since our place is close by. But I want them to spend only whats in the budget.

[repocrazy12]

The gauge is active again guys. Just thought I would share.

[steve l]

hey, thanks for the heads-up. I see it is in cooperation with the Mo Dept of Natural resources. That seems new, although I don't remember for sure. Just wondering if that is where the funding came from. Regardless, a useful gauge.