Provisional Real-Time Water-Quality Data

Water-quality data from real-time water-quality monitors are relayed to the Oregon Water Science Center in Portland through a telephone telemetry data collection system. Data are transmitted from each station on a set schedule, usually at least twice per day.

Real-time water-quality data provided from the Oregon Water Science Center website are "provisional" and have not necessarily been reviewed or edited. These data may be subject to significant change and are not citeable until reviewed and approved by the U.S. Geological Survey. Real-time data may be changed after review for the following reasons:

• Fouling of water-quality probes
• Algal and aquatic growth on instrumentation
• Malfunction of water-quality probes
• Malfunction of recording equipment

Data are reviewed periodically to ensure accuracy, and edits and shifts are entered as soon as possible to keep the data as accurate as possible. Each station record, however, is considered provisional until the data are checked, reviewed, and approved. That usually happens within 6 months of the end of the water year.

Data users are cautioned to consider carefully the provisional nature of the information before using it for decisions that concern personal or public safety or the conduct of business that involves substantial monetary or operational consequences.

Information concerning the accuracy and appropriate uses of these data or concerning other hydrologic data may be obtained from:

Kurt Carpenter
U.S. Geological Survey
Oregon Water Science Center
2130 SW 5th Avenue
Portland, OR 97201
(503) 251-3215
email: <kdcar@usgs.gov>