The Federal Priority Streamgage (FPS) network serves as a backbone of the greater National Streamgage Network to meet ongoing Federal priorities for streamgage data. The network was designed to meet five federal information needs, and 4,756 sites nationally were selected as meeting one or more of these needs, as indicated on this mapper. These sites are eligible for federal funding, as available. As of September 30, 2023, 3,438 of these sites were active, collecting real time streamflow and/or water level data to meet federal needs. The FPS federal appropriations fully-funds about one-third of these sites and partially funds about one-fourth; with the remaining active sites receiving no FPS funds but are funded through other means. There were 1,318 FPS-eligible stations that were not active.

The USGS launched an effort to review the FPS network priorities with Federal partners in 2022, which culminated in five updated priorities that were released in the spring of 2023. A new network design based upon these updated priorities will be formulated in 2024.

• Water Forecasting and Operations—Supply essential data used for flood alerts, flood and drought forecasts, river navigation, Federal reservoir operation, and assessment and modeling of streamflow conditions to mitigate water hazards and supply shortages and allow science-based decision making by Federal water managers.
• Boundaries, compacts, treaties and Federal lands—Support interstate, international, and tribal border water agreements, compacts, court decrees, treaties and water-use/water-rights management involving Federal lands.
• Water budget—Monitor streamflow in major rivers, and water volume in key receiving waters such as the Great Lakes.
• Long-term hydrologic trends and extremes—Monitor long-term streamflow conditions associated with major land uses and ecoregions, including at springs making significant contributions to base flow in streams and in coastal-zone environments impacted by sea-level rise, to identify and track long-term hydrologic trends and support Federal water modeling and management.
• Water quality—Support Federal water-quality assessments of major rivers and estuaries, public-health risk assessment and warning relating to impaired streams and ecosystem health management on Federal lands.

This mapper depicts locations, primary information goals, and funding characteristics of the FPS network. Views can be selected for each State, and for specific federal priorities or funding characteristics. The total active number of sites in the table header below represents currently active stations and may vary over time as part of normal network operations.