Hydro 21 History

Hydro 21 (Hydro 21) is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) task committee that was formed in 1996 to provide vision and leadership in the USGS for identifying and evaluating new technologies and methods that might have the potential to change the paradigm in the USGS streamgaging program. The committee's mission and goals were detailed in an extensive workplan drafted at the time of its formation.

Since the time of its formation, the committee has been involved in extensive research on non-contact methods of measuring open channel flow velocity and volume. Through its research, networking, and publications, the committee has succeeded in increasing awareness of potentially applicable technologies, establishing new reseach and collaborative contacts, identifying new instrumentation, identifying new technologies, and conducting proof-of-concept experiments.