Temporary Streamgages Installed to Assist Texas Flood Response
Reporters: Do you want to interview USGS scientists as they measure flooding? Please contact Jennifer LaVista.
Additional temporary streamgages have been installed by U.S. Geological Survey field crews to assist with flood response near the populated Lake Jackson area in Texas.
Rapidly deployable streamgages can be installed temporarily to provide emergency managers with additional information needed to help protect public safety.
USGS crews have installed two gages off of bridges on the Brazos River; one near West Columbia and the other near Brazoria, Texas. Both gages are currently transmitting information every hour, and will report more frequently if water levels rise above flood stage. Real-time information for these gages can be found directly online.
Access the rapidly deployable streamgage information here:
Brazos River near West Columbia
Brazos River near Brazoria
Eight USGS crews are measuring high flood flows and verifying streamgage operations on the Colorado, Brazos and San Jacinto River basins following intense rainfall that started last Thursday.
New, innovative tools are now available that provide real-time streamflow, groundwater, lake levels, weather and flood predictions for Texas in one place. The USGS Texas Water Dashboard and accompanying Twitter feeds, @USGS_TexasFlood and @USGS_TexasRain, are available at your fingertips on your desktop, smartphone or other mobile device to quickly provide water information for your area.
USGS crews will keep tracking the movement of the floodwaters as rains continue and the water moves downstream. This information is critical for resource managers and emergency responders to help protect life and property. The USGS has coordinated efforts with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Weather Service, Harris County Flood Control District, the San Jacinto River Authority and other local and state partners.
There are more than 550 USGS-operated streamgages in Texas that measure water levels, streamflow and rainfall. When flooding occurs, USGS crews make numerous discharge measurements to verify the data USGS provides to federal, state and local agencies, as well as to the public.
For more than 125 years, the USGS has monitored flow in selected streams and rivers across the United States. The information is routinely used for water supply and management, monitoring floods and droughts, bridge and road design, determination of flood risk and for many recreational activities.
Access current flood and high flow conditions across the country by visiting the USGS WaterWatch website. Receive instant, customized updates about water conditions in your area via text message or email by signing up for USGS WaterAlert. See where floodwaters go by following a stream trace at Streamer. View water data on your mobile device. Learn how a USGS streamgage works.
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