Hello ISA, please allow me to introduce myself.... I am Gary Johnson, Chief of the USGS Hydrologic Data Section in Illinois. That simply means that I oversee the Streamgaging Network in Illinois.
I am sorry I haven't responded until now, I have been gone for the last 3 weeks, and am trying to get uncovered at work.
First, it is very satisfying to hear the positive comments about USGS streamgages. I am always amazed at the numbers and diversity of users of USGS data. Although your group seems to understand the importance of the data and where it comes from, this is not generally the case. I always say that USGS data has a profound impact on people's lives, but noone knows anything about it. USGS streamgage data are used for a wide variety of uses: maintaining navigation, highway and bridge design, flood forecasting, flood warning, flood response, flood zone delineation, industry permits for withdrawls and treatment plant operations, and finally, by public citizens for recreation purposes. We are very glad to be of service to many different data users.
Unfortunately, we are not funded directly by Congress to operate the Streamgage Network. We rely heavily on "soft money", i.e. money from others to pay for the gages. This funding scheme definitely keeps us relevant, efficient, and focused on local issues, which is GOOD. However, it also subjects us to the budget issues of several different agencies whose budget cycles are often a roller coaster ride. We primarily run these gages for large governmental entities. Our main cooperators are the Corps of Engineers, the IDNR-Office of Water Resources, and some of the Chicago Counties (DuPage and Kane), but we have over 30 entities that contribute to support the network in Illinois.
One promising answer to our shakey budget foundation is the National Streamflow Information Program (NSIP), see http://water.usgs.gov/nsip/
NSIP has not been fully funded, but the funding has been increasing as it picks up advocates and support. NSIP calls for a unified network to meet National needs of streamflow information while ensuring that local needs continue to be met. NSIP is designed with five components, one of which is to provide a "backbone" or core of streamgages that are of such critical importance to national streamflow information needs that their operation should be assured with Federal funds. NSIP was created in response to Congressional and stakeholder concerns about (1) a loss of streamgages, (2) a disproportionate loss of streamgages with a long period of record, (3) the inability of the USGS to continue operating high-priority streamgages when partners discontinue funding and (4) the increasing demand for streamflow information due to new resource-management issues and new data-delivery capabilities.
With respect to adding sensors-- please realize that this is not a trivial matter. The sensors cost money, and maintaining them can be very costly. Sensors are unfortunately not very robust, and often fail due to lightning strikes, debris or ice or sediment impacts, vandalism, humidity, and countless other anomolous reasons. USGS data are looked upon as a very reliable data-- As such, we literally look at every piece of data we collect every day to QAQC it. If something looks odd, or if it stops coming in, we send someone to troubleshoot/fix it. We have to check the sensors periodically by doing manual measurements and then adjust the stored data accordingly. Finally, we also publish all our data, which is a whole other set of challenges.
I also wanted to answer an earlier comment about obtaining USSG data on your cellphone or PDA. You can send a text message or email to "streammail@usgs.gov", put the USGS station number in the subject line, and within about 5 minutes you will get a text message or email back with the current stage and streamflow.
I am happy to try to answer any questions you may have, I'll try to watch this forum and reply as appropriate, but please bear with me in terms of timeliness of reply!