COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY STREAM-GAUGING PROGRAM

A summary of the results of a cost-effectiveness study of the U.S. Geological Survey stream-gauging program in 17 states is contained in this paper. The results are for the first year of a five year nationwide study undertaken by the U.S. Geological Survey. The objective of the study is to define and document the most cost-effective means of furnishing streamflow information. The first step of this study involved identification of data uses and funding sources for 1,939 continuous-record stations currently being operated with a budget of $11,425,650. Only 35 continuous-record stations were identified as not having sufficient justification to continue their operation. In addition, 31 more short-term special study stations were identified as not having justified data uses beyond completion of their respective studies. In the second step, evaluation of alternative methods of providing streamflow information, flow-routing and regression models were developed for estimating daily flows at 145 stations of the 1,939 stations analyzed. Only six of the 145 stations that were analyzed were considered to have acceptable accuracy of the simulated flows for the intended uses of the data. Based on the accuracy of the simulated flows, the operation of continuous-record gauging stations at these locations could be discontinued. In the third step of the analysis, relationships were developed between the accuracy of the streamflow records and the oerating budget. For the current operating budget, the weighted average standard error was 21.0 percent for the programs analyzed in the 17 states. By redistribution of resources among the stations according to an optimization program, this weighted average standard error can be reduced to 19.0 percent. The current weighted average standard error of 21.0 percent can conversely be achieved with a reduced budget of $10,889,800, a total budget reduction of $535,850.