U.S. Geological Survey Streamgage Network in the Upper Colorado River Basin—Recording the Hydrologic History of the Western United States
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- Document: Report (8.53 MB pdf) , HTML , XML
- Related Work: Fact Sheet 2025-3036 Applying U.S. Geological Survey Science to Understand Effects to Water Supply in the Upper Colorado River Basin
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Introduction
Water supply in the Western United States is an essential resource, and the collection of accurate and timely water information is fundamental to effectively managing water resources in the region. Efforts to document the hydrology in the Colorado River Basin are vital to life in the Western United States. These efforts began as far back as the initial John Wesley Powell exploration of the Colorado River and its tributaries in the summer of 1869. Shortly after, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) was created in 1879, and the first USGS systematic measurement of streamflow began at the first streamgage, 08279500 Rio Grande at Embudo, New Mexico, in 1889.
During its 146-year existence, the USGS has served the citizens of the United States in many roles, notably through long-standing stewardship in water science. For example, the USGS has collected hydrologic information at strategic locations within the Western United States to support water resource management, flood forecasting and response, interbasin water transfers, hydropower generation, municipal and agricultural water supplies, food security, recreation, habitat preservation, international treaty obligations and river compact compliance, and the operation of major water-storage projects, including Lake Powell and Lake Mead bordering Utah and Arizona, and Nevada and Arizona, respectively.
Plain Language Summary
The Colorado River Basin provides critical water resources for millions of people. Streamgages have been collecting real-time data since the late 1800s and providing long-term information on hydrologic changes and processes in the basin. Advancements in monitoring technologies and data collection improve the understanding of complex processes affecting water quantity, quality, and availability for effective management across the basin.
Suggested Citation
Forbes, B.T., Eddy-Miller, C.A., Rowland, R.C., Drukker, O.A., and Cordova, J., 2025, U.S. Geological Survey streamgage network in the Upper Colorado River Basin—Recording the hydrologic history of the Western United States: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2025–3039, 4 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20253039.
ISSN: 2327-6932 (online)
ISSN: 2327-6916 (print)
Study Area
Table of Contents
- Plain Language Summary
- Introduction
- Importance of Water Resources in the Colorado River Basin
- Hydrologic Data Collection in the Upper Colorado River Basin
- Innovation and New Monitoring Technology
- Streamgage Network Funding Partners
- References Cited
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | U.S. Geological Survey streamgage network in the Upper Colorado River Basin—Recording the hydrologic history of the Western United States |
| Series title | Fact Sheet |
| Series number | 2025-3039 |
| DOI | 10.3133/fs20253039 |
| Publication Date | August 06, 2025 |
| Year Published | 2025 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Reston VA |
| Contributing office(s) | Colorado Water Science Center |
| Description | 4 p. |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming |
| Other Geospatial | Upper Colorado River basin |
| Online Only (Y/N) | N |