The Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with State, local, and other Federal agencies, obtains a large amount of data pertaining to the water resources of Washington each water year. These data, accumulated during many water years, constitute a valuable data base for developing an improved understanding of the water resources of the State. To make these data readily available to interested parties outside the Geological Survey, the data are published annually in this report series entitled "Water Resources Data Washington."
This report includes records on both surface and ground water in the State. Specifically, it contains: (1) Discharge records for 225 stream-gaging stations, 29 partial-record or miscellaneous streamflow stations, and 3 crest-stage partial-record streamflow station; (2) stage only records for 2 gaging stations; (3) stage and (or) content records for 34 lakes and reservoirs; (4) water-quality records for 68 stream, canal and drain sites; (5) water-level records for 4 observation wells; and (6) water quality record for 1 observation well. Records included for stream stages and for ground-water levels are only a small fraction of those obtained during the water year.
This series of annual reports for Washington began with the 1961 water year with a report that contained only data relating to the quantities of surface water. For the 1964 water year, a similar report was introduced that contained only data relating to water quality. Beginning with the 1975 water year, the report format was changed to present, in one volume, data on quantities of surface water, quality of surface and ground water, and ground-water levels.
