Homework #2: Finding Stream Data                                                                                                             Dr. Sanders

In this homework assignment, you will locate and print out one year’s worth of discharge data for a stream gage in Illinois.  We will work with this data in class on January 22, so be sure that you have your data in hand when you come to class that day!

Here is how to find the data you need:

1) CHOOSE AN ILLINOIS STREAM GAGE

Go to the USGS web site http://water.usgs.gov/, click “Surface Water”, and then click  “Streamflow”.  Under “Site Location”, click “State”, and then click “Submit”.  Select “Illinois”, and under “Choose Output Format”, select “Table of sites sorted by SITE NAME grouped by COUNTY” (you’ll have to select the words “Site Name” and “County”.)  Then, click the “Submit” button.

This will give you a list of all the stream gages in Illinois, grouped by county.  For each gage, it tells you the period of record—in other words, how long the USGS has been keeping records at that site.  Make a note of what the period of record is.

Pick any stream gage, and click on the Site Number.  This will take you to a site specifically for that particular gage.  Get to know your gage by going to “Available data for this site” and selecting such choices as “Station Site Map”, “Station Home Page”, and “EPA Surf Your Watershed” (click GO to visit each of these pages).
 

2) RECORD IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR GAGE

When you have gotten to know your gage site a little better, you’re ready to proceed.  Before doing anything else, find and record the following information:
    a.  Stream name
    b.  Location of gaging station (the town/city, the county, and the latitude/longitude)
    c.  Drainage area (square miles)
    d.  Period of record (see Step 1, above).
 

3) COLLECT ONE YEAR'S WORTH OF DISCHARGE DATA

On the “Available Data for this Site” menu, click on “Daily Streamflow” and GO.  Under “Choose Output Format”, go to the boxes in the “Retrieve data from” line, and enter the beginning and end of a one-year period.  Be sure to use the correct format (YYYY-MM-DD).  Also, be sure that the dates you enter fall within the period of record!

Select “Tab-Separated Data”, select “Display in Browser”, and then click the Submit button.

Print this list (it’s about 7 pages long), and you’re done!  Bring your data to class with you on January 22.

Last updated January 15, 2002