USGS Data Collection: Real-Time Rain Gages for Post Conchas-Fire Flood-Early Warning System
The Las Conchas fire started on June 26, 2011, near the small community of Las Conchas in the Jemez Mountains of north-central New Mexico. When the fire was contained on August 3, 2011, it had burned 156,593 acres of mixed conifer, pinyon/juniper, and ponderosa forest. At the time, it was the largest wildfire in New Mexico history. Peak burn severity was extreme; over 60,000 acres of the total burned in the first 2 days.
![Post Wildfire Soil Properties, New Mexico Water Science Center](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/image4_1.jpeg?itok=e_4pzuW6)
Approach
- Four rain gages are installed in the upper watershed of the burn scar
- Rain gages act as the primary sensors, or data inputs, into a flood EWS operated and maintained by the USACE or other provider
- USGS downloads data from the alarm system provider and enters it into the USGS NWIS database; data is checked, reviewed, and approved on a regular basis and in accordance with USGS standards
![Las Conchas Rain Gage 2, New Mexico Water Science Center](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/image5_4.jpeg?itok=J0b-DWxF)
Objectives
In response to this fire, numerous governmental and non-governmental agencies sought to create an early-warning system (EWS) to help protect downstream communities and the general public from the post-burn flooding. As part of the interagency collaboration, the USGS installed rain gages to act as the primary sensors necessary to activate the alarms for this system.
![Las Conchas Rain Gage, New Mexico Water Science Center](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/image6_6.jpeg?itok=GS9Vhe0y)
Below are partners associated with this project.
The Las Conchas fire started on June 26, 2011, near the small community of Las Conchas in the Jemez Mountains of north-central New Mexico. When the fire was contained on August 3, 2011, it had burned 156,593 acres of mixed conifer, pinyon/juniper, and ponderosa forest. At the time, it was the largest wildfire in New Mexico history. Peak burn severity was extreme; over 60,000 acres of the total burned in the first 2 days.
![Post Wildfire Soil Properties, New Mexico Water Science Center](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/image4_1.jpeg?itok=e_4pzuW6)
Approach
- Four rain gages are installed in the upper watershed of the burn scar
- Rain gages act as the primary sensors, or data inputs, into a flood EWS operated and maintained by the USACE or other provider
- USGS downloads data from the alarm system provider and enters it into the USGS NWIS database; data is checked, reviewed, and approved on a regular basis and in accordance with USGS standards
![Las Conchas Rain Gage 2, New Mexico Water Science Center](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/image5_4.jpeg?itok=J0b-DWxF)
Objectives
In response to this fire, numerous governmental and non-governmental agencies sought to create an early-warning system (EWS) to help protect downstream communities and the general public from the post-burn flooding. As part of the interagency collaboration, the USGS installed rain gages to act as the primary sensors necessary to activate the alarms for this system.
![Las Conchas Rain Gage, New Mexico Water Science Center](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/image6_6.jpeg?itok=GS9Vhe0y)
Below are partners associated with this project.