Oregon Water Resources Upper Willamette Stream Guaging

The Surface Water Gaging Program consists of a network of stations that provide for the collection of surface water measurement data in the basin. The gauges were visited monthly and a manual measurement made to ensure the accuracy of data collected. There were 32 gauges operated in the Upper Willamette basin and tracked by OWRD. Many of these gauges operated in near real-time using satellite telemetry to monitor current conditions. This method of operation allows OWRD to actively manage senior uses of water including the protection of instream rights. The flow data is publicly available, often used by other agencies and private entities to plan instream projects for the protection of habitat and aquatic species. This program is in cooperation with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), and provides surface water discharge data through both the OWRD and USGS websites.

The goal of this project is to allow field staff to accurately manage water throughout the basin, protecting senior out-of-stream and instream uses as well as regulating unauthorized uses that may cause injury to valid water rights. The flow data collected is publicly available and often used by other agencies and private entities to develop projects that benefit salmonids and valuable stream habitat such as fish screens, passage projects, diversion replacements, and stream morphology projects.