Streamgauge data collection on both USGS gauges on the Big Piney may be discontinued on January 1, 2017

[jdmidwest]

I am pretty sure it is all government funding.  It may be funded from other branches of government in places, but all are taxpayer dollars.  It may be a small percentage of the overall budget, which I don't think they really have used one in about 10 years or longer, but it is a portion allocated from taxes collected from US citizens and businesses.

https://www2.usgs.gov/budget/

But it is a scientific budget that falls under more scrutiny.  More money falls into coffers that support other projects that have higher returns on voter visibility.

There are gauges maintained by certain other agencies I believe and have seen.  TVA, SWPA, and others that may draw funding from both Government and Power Generating agencies on waters they control or create.  Then there are gauges maintained by the Corps of Engineers on steams they manage and maintain.

[jdmidwest]

And the USGS Streamflow Program is funded with over 850 Federal, State, and Local Agencies.  All seem to be taxpayer dollars....

http://water.usgs.gov/nsip/

http://water.usgs.gov/nsip/nasreport/es/NSIP_Executive_Summary.html

http://www.fondriest.com/news/stream-gauge.htm

They are one benefit of your taxpayer dollars you can utilize and enjoy.  Contact your Senator and Congressional Rep to get some attention to the problem.  Then drop down to State Reps and State Senate to clinch the deal.

[Kelroy]

3 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

So they are funded by other GOVERNMENT agencies ? 

Or private businesses ?

Strictly other govt agencies. As an earth science agency, the USGS must maintain a strict standard of neutrality and impartiality to avoid even the slightest suspicion of impropriety. Even though they are strictly non-regulatory, they cannot afford to risk the appearance of private investors holding sway over the collection or interpretation of scientific data. That is one reason why USGS employees (even those studying volcanoes, glaciers, earthquakes,  water resources etc) are not allowed to hold any stock in any mineral, precious metal, or petroleum-based entities, or any other business which could benefit from any USGS earth-science research. 

On the flip side, how much faith would you have in a Jack's Fork fecal contamination study funded by Cross Country Trail Ride Inc? Or maybe a report on Big River dissolved-lead levels financed by Doe Run? By design, USGS' earth science information is publicly-funded, published in the public domain for the public good, and must therefore be isolated from the possibility of private influence. 

[fishinwrench]

There ya have it

[Phil Lilley]

I emailed Paul H. Rydlund  and asked about funding.  Here's the email I received just now:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for your inquiry.  Costs for gage operation are $14,600 annually to disseminate both river stage and flow, costs are $5200 annually to only disseminate flow.  Through non-standard means we could receive funding (often times through another agency) from private sources.  Feel free to give me a call if you wish next week.  We are slated for a meeting next Monday as follows....

----------------------------

You are receiving this email to be invited to attend a short meeting on the afternoon of December 12^th in Waynesville, Missouri to discuss four USGS stream gages in Pulaski County area that are threatened to be discontinued due lack of funding.  These stream gages are located along the Big Piney River and the Roubidoux Creek (see below), and USGS has indicated that these stream gages will be discontinued and removed if additional funding is not secured in the near future.  Attached you will find a fact sheet that USGS has prepared regarding these specific gages. 

 

06928300  Roubidoux Creek above Fort Leonard Wood, MO            06928420  Roubidoux Creek at Polla Rd below Ft. Leonard Wood            06930000  Big Piney River near Big Piney, MO            06930060  Big Piney River below Fort Leonard Wood, MO

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a stream gage user you will have unique insight on how you and/or your entity uses these stream gages and will be able to provide input in that regard.  Given the importance of these stream gages, we would very much like to work all interested partners, so feel free to forward this email to other parties and/or individuals as desired.  The goal of this meeting is to discuss the specific use and benefit of these gages and come up with a unified path forward to secure funding. 

 

What:   Roubidoux Creek and Big Piney River USGS stream gage meeting to discuss use and funding

 

When:  December 12^th 2-4 pm

 

Where:  Waynesville’s new Municipal Center at 100 Tremont Center (more specific directions to follow)

 

 

If you have questions or concerns please feel free to contact me.

 

Thank you for your help and attention.  

 

Bob Bacon, State Hydrologist

Bob.Bacon@dnr.mo.gov

 

Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Water Resources Center

1101 Riverside Dr.

Jefferson City, MO 65102

 

(573) 751-6632 (office)

(573) 291-8184 (cell)

(573) 751-8475 (fax)

 

 

 

Paul H. Rydlund Jr. PLS

Supervisory Hydrologist.  U.S. Geological Survey

Missouri Water Science Center

1400 Independence Drive

Rolla, Missouri  65401

Office (573) 308-3572

Cell (573) 202-3994

prydlund@usgs.gov

[msamatt]

Phil, thanks for sharing that with us.  I received a very similar response and copied it into an announcement I sent to the folks on my mailing list (including you) yesterday.  Greasy B sums up my reason for starting this topic in the first place when he writes " Though I use the gages for every trip there are far more important reasons for them than my convenience."     I also agree with Al that the two gauges on the Piney are somewhat redundant and if we had to lose one we'd still have the data from the other.  I'd prefer to lose neither.   So,  I encourage you to please, in addition to enjoying the lively ongoing debate about the many inefficiencies and shortcomings of our governmental systems, contact both  Mr. Rydlund, Mr. Bacon and your state and federal legislators and express your interest in having these gauges to remain in service.  

Thanks,

Matt 

 

[msamatt]

Guys I'm sharing an update I received from Sam Potter who attended the meeting in Waynesville on Monday.  

Here is the skinny on the meeting today:

Meeting attended by several outfitters, members of USGS, DNR, MDC, Pulaski County Engineer, City of Waynesville, NWS , RFFA and myself.    Not present Corp of Engineers and US Army 

Everyone was in agreement that all four of the proposed gages are necessary, but there is insufficient funding for them to continue after the 1^st of the year.

At present the four gages are funded by the US Army at FLW. They will no longer be funded by the Army after the 1^st.

Cost to operate one gage for one year that includes CFS monitoring is  $14,600

Cost to operate one gage for one year, flow only is $5,200. (height in feet)

Most of the attendees agreed that while it is great to have the CFS monitored it isn’t necessary to determine water level safety, especially considering the cost involved.

 

USGS funding for gages is often paid for by private enterprises and sometimes in partnership with DNR, MDC and others that have an interest in the particular gage involved.

The city of Waynesville will partially fund (partner with) gage or gages on the Roubidoux Creek. Undisclosed amount, but I think it was 50%

MDC has an interest in the Ross Bridge gage (upper gage above FLW) on the Big Piney and will partner funding for it.  Possibly the lower gage on the Roubidouix.

The lower Big Piney gage (below FLW) is a Federal Priority Streamgage (FPG) and is eligible to be funded with USGS appropriations if additional FPS funds become available.

 

At our Roubidouix Fly Fishers (RFFA) meeting next week I will propose that we partner with a gage.  We are a small fishing club so we can’t fork out too much, but some is better than none.

I am pushing the upper gage on the Big Piney, but may have to settle on the lower gage if USGS can only come up with enough money for one gage.

 

See Attachments from the meeting today for more information.

 

You can contact:

Amy M Beussink for more information. Email  ambeussi@usgs.gov   573-308-3665    cell  713-560-9899

USGS Missouri Water Science Center

 

Sam

 

Sam Potter

Ozark Fly Fishing Guide

www.TightLine.biz

Outdoor & Sports Photography

www.TightLine.IFP3.com

573-465-3556

“A Bad Day Fishing Is Still A Great Day”