Status of USGS Surface-Water Programs and Networks: An OSW Prospective Robert Mason Data Chiefs’ Meeting December 4, 2013 The Role of the GOES DCS in the USGS Streamgage Network –a Users Prospective Robert Mason U.S. Geological Survey March 27, 2015

USGS Mission Provide reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life. 135 years old 8,500 Full-time employees $1.02 B budget What do we do? Research Assessments Monitoring

What do we monitor ? Number of sites Name ,841 Gage height 8,134 Discharge 3,339 Precipitation 2,048 Water temperature 1,832 Ground-water Level 1,087 Specific conductance 815 Lake/Res elevation 632 Dissolved oxygen 492 Stream velocity 466 Air temperature 523 pH 323 Turbidity 179 Wind speed 159 Salinity 144 Wind direction Number of sites Name Reservoir storage 60 Soil temperature 52 Air pressure 50 Relative humidity 39 Soil moisture 25 Chlorophyll 19 Pressure, diss gases 15 Barometric pressure 14 Solar radiation 10 Sodium adsorption ratio 13 Tide elevation 7 Redox potential 5 NO2+NO3 5 Cyanobacteria (7/22/14)

4 Streamflow Information is Essential Engineering Design –Corps, BOR, States, locals Flood Reservoir Operations –Corps (2,478 sites), BOR, TVA Hydroelectric Power Ops–FERC, Utilities Streamflow Forecasting –NWS (3,900 sites) Water-Quality Regulation –EPA, States (TMDLs, etc.) Water/Wastewater Treatment–Local and State Irrigation–BOR, water purveyors Floodplain Mapping –FEMA (NFIP) Evacuation Planning –FEMA (Hazus) Recreational boating–Outfitters, individuals Research–NAWQA, NRP, CWP, EPA, NOAA, universities

Streamgaging/Forecasting Data Interoperability USGS streamflow data USGS Obs. River Stage Rainfall Data Rainfall- Runoff Model USGS Rating NWS Pred.

2011 Major Flood Peaks

Network Costs $162M per year 850+ Partners Funding Sources State / Local Agencies $82M49% Other Federal Agencies (OFA)$27M17% USGS Cooperative Program (CWP) $27M17% USGS Nat Streamflow Info Program$26M17% Streamgages 8,134 gages All real-time Most via GOES 13 th top network The USGS Streamgaging Network

8 Rating The Streamgaging Process Flow Measurements Streamgage Time Shift Flow / Stage Stage Flow

GOES and HRIT Data Transmission

GOES – Current Usage and Cost USGS GOES sites >10,000 (USGS is by far the largest user of the GOES DCS system.) 57 GOES Channels Total average cost is ~$129/year (actual cost per state) $200k for EDDN. Investment in GOES Millions invested so far in hardware and software ( $32 million in deployed GOES dcps and antennas alone). (Basic dcp + antenna ≈ $2,500-$3,500/each). Support staff salaries

Strengths & Weaknesses - GOES Weaknesses Limited in size and frequency of data transmissions Unusable for media transmission 1-way Limited upgradability Lack of alternate or supplemental telemetry. Strengths Reliable Low Operational Cost Established Infrastructure Adequate for most existing sites currently operating Government owned Geostationary Satellite Message traffic processing already in place

GOES and HRIT Data Transmission NOP Series MHz; RSTU Series MHz; LRIT N MHz HRIT R MHz

Our Questions? Given that GOES is weak, what does “sharing” mean for our signals? Will exclusion zones be permitted? Can we create “guard bands” around GOES frequencies? Can we increase the power of GOES signals?

Questions??