Funding dropped for USGS monitoring in NYC.

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Map of real-time streamflow compared to historical streamflow for the day of the year (New York)

As part of budget sequestration, funding for US Geological Survey monitoring of stream flow (which I believe should translate for us into CSO levels) and other conditions has been cut. Suspension of this service is to begin May 1, just as we gear up for our public programs’ season, When these stations are eventually restored, in part through citizen lobbying, we should consider using the USGS customization tools for the NYC Water Trail.
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Below are links, key text sections, and contacts regarding this issue:
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NYC and western Nassau County stations that lost funding –  http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ny/nwis/rt
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<<NOTICE (04/09/2013) — Funding dropped for USGS monitoring network in the five boroughs of New York City.

Data collection from 213 groundwater stations, 10 surface-water stations, 1 meteorological station, and 133 water-quality stations in the five boroughs of New York and extreme western Nassau County will be suspended at the end of the month (May 1, 2013) due to elimination of the program by a funding partner… For more information or to help support these sites please contact Ron Busciolano (rjbuscio@usgs.gov) or Stephen Terracciano (saterrac@usgs.gov) at the USGS New York Water Science Center, Coram Program Office at(631) 736-0783 or at the emails listed above.>>
Threatened Streamgages
Threatened Precipitation Sites
Threatened Groundwater Sites

USGS to Discontinue Streamgages Due to Sequestration: The U.S.Geological Survey (USGS) will discontinue operation of up to 375 streamgages nationwide due to budget cuts as a result of sequestration. Additional streamgages may be affected if partners reduce their funding to support USGS streamgages. The USGS is working to identify which streamgages will be impacted and will post this information as it becomes available. Streamgages are used nationwide to predict and address drought and flood conditions by monitoring water availability. The USGS and over 850 Federal, State, and local agencies cooperatively fund the USGS streamgaging network, which consists of over 8,000 streamgages. When budget fluctuations occur, the network is impacted.

If you have questions about specific stations or would like additional information,
please contact:

Ward Freeman 

518-285-5665 

wfreeman@usgs.gov

 

Relatedly, Friends of Brook Park alerted us to similar troubles on the beach front:
http://action.surfrider.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=7766