Hydro 21 Research

The purpose of the Hydro 21 committee is to identify and incorporate new technologies into the USGS hydrologic-data network and to ensure the vitality of these programs. The committee examines technologies that may be useful for data collection related to the surficial portion of river systems. Hydro 21's primary research has focused on development of a reliable, non-contact method to directly monitor open-channel flow from the channel bank. Initial research has shown that there are technologies that may be extended to hydrologic applications. Most existing technologies are only suitable for specific circumstances, and implementation will be incremental. Research by the committee has considered remote and non-contact methods for river flow measurements, including acoustics, laser, and radar.

December 2003 Cowlitz River continuous non-contact discharge experiment.

If you have suggestions or are aware of technologies that might be useful for making direct measurements of stream velocity, river stage, channel geometry, or specific water quality parameters and constituents, please contact one of the committee members. Detailed descriptions of many of the present procedures are included in the report series "Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations of the United States Geological Survey."

Periodic updates of research will be included on this site and in Committee publications from journals and conference proceedings.

Hydro 21 Completes Major Research Experiment: Reproduces Streamgaging Record for Four-Month Period

Three different radar systems were tested to see if they could reproduce discharge on a daily basis similar to a regular USGS streamgaging station. For the period of October 2003 to February 2004, the three radars produced the discharge record of the Cowlitz River at Castle Rock, Washington with correlation coefficients of 0.88 to 0.99. Results are reported in Costa and others, 2006.