KREP: River Gages

I'm going to be taking part in a Zoom meeting on river gages with Kishwaukee River Ecosystem Partnership (KREP) on the afternoon of March 3rd.

"Join us for the next KREP meeting to learn all about stream gages from Clint Bailey, a hydrologist and stream gage expert with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). 

Stream gages are one of the most important tools available to help us understand our waterways and the watersheds that feed them.  However, stream gages are underutilized because very few people know about them or how to use the data they collect.  Join us for this important opportunity to learn how stream gages work, the type of data that can be collected, how collected data can be used, what type of maintenance is required, and what type of coverage is needed in a watershed."

Brutus Photo with Gage Readings

One problem I have always had with the USGS gage sites was that they used color coding for flood stage use. That's fine but pretty much anyone checking to see if the Kish was safe to inner tube with their family would find that it was indeed safe all the way up to 11.5ft.

But that is when thinking flood stages not Recreational stages. That's a problem.

No way should anybody put a tube on the Kish when the level is at 9.5ft. But a quick look at the gage would show it as safe. False.

With the new USGS gage pages I see that it appears they have moved away from the color coding. But still there is no info for John Q. Public to get from checking the gage, other than the info that's provided which really says nothing to anyone who doesn't know.

I ask.... Does the USGS have a program (grant) in place to work with communities to help provide a safe Water Recreational environment?

I have never claimed to be a smart man but it sure seems like this would be pretty simple to do. Pretty sure I could do it. Actually, I started working on one last year. I call it 815 Rec. I think it's pretty nice and could be AWESOME. Each body of water in the 815 area code would have it's own info page with gages, level guide, put-ins & take-outs, and more. I think it's bigger than this WiX app and want to do it right. I need to talk to the right people.

If you'd like to see the app here's the link

http://wix.to/6fgdBRh?ref=cl