Furnished Record Policy: Supplemental Information for Streamgage Data

USGS Water Mission Area Technical Memo 2016.04 sets out standards for the use of furnished water records from Cooperators. The supplemental information below provides Water Science Centers with details on how to comply with the policy.

USGS Standards

Data Quality

• The Data Provider should follow USGS surface water data collection methods, procedures and policies. Surface Water Technical Procedures documents outline proper data collection methods that should be followed by the USGS and Data Provider. Taken together, these documents, each addressing different streamgaging activities, constitute "USGS surface-water data-collection standards". All require some interpretation and many require some adaptation to specific hydrologic conditions and circumstances. If data collection varies from USGS standards, deviations should be documented in the project and Center Quality Assurance and Data Management Plans and should be acceptable to the Water Science Center accepting the data.
• USGS should verify Data Provider data collection procedures at regular intervals to assure the data quality. Generally, this means, at a minimum, an annual site visit with the Data Provider.
• Streamflow measurement equipment including mechanical current meters, acoustic Doppler current profiles (ADCPs) and acoustic Doppler velicometer (ADVs) should have a regular calibration check to assure data quality has not been compromised. Data Providers should participate in the Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility (HIF) programs, or provide documentation of measurement equipment calibration.

Site and Data Documentation

The Data Provider should provide a complete site description and all necessary field data to aid in review and interpretation. Required information includes:

• A station description
• Electronic data logger files
• Copies of latest levels
• Field observations include copies of measurement notes and/or electronic files
• Rating curve or table used
• Station Analysis outlining procedures and correction used

Date Timeliness

• Data Providers should provide the data to the USGS in a timely manner in accordance with the agreement.
• USGS must review and approve the data in a timely manner upon receipt as described in continuous records processing guidelines or time-series data (WMA Policy Memo 2010.02).
• Records tracked in the Records Management Systen (RMS) should be assigned the most appropriate category for approval per policy guidelines.

Records Processing and Review

The Office of Surface Water (OSW) employs various spreadsheets (Continuous Discharge Surface-Water Records Review Form--Excel File) to guide and document its assessment of WSC streamflow, stage, and precipitation records during tri-annual surface-water reviews. Use of these spreadsheets facilitates systematic review of the entire data-collection, computation, and analysis process. The spreadsheets include substantial notation and weblinks explaining the particulars of many USGS policies and techniques and provide opportunities to document and evaluate the factors essential to collection of reliable and accurate surface-water data. The spreadsheets are utilized often by many WSCs in internal reviews of their data.

The receiving WSC should use this spreadsheet to assess the completeness and adequacy of the provided data. Any shortcomings should be communicated back to the data provider. Data should not be accepted if there is no intent to quality assure and publish.

Data Publication

Generally, USGS will publish the furnished record on NWISWeb and code the data with the appropriate source/provided information. If, for any reason, there is a compelling and defensible reason for not publishing data, it should be documented in the Center QA Plan. Exceptions should be reevaluated periodically.

Links to other technical office pages:

• Office of Groundwater currently