projects, and municipal water supplies. These stream gages will be strategically placed to support decisions related to integrated management of Montana's water ... Legacy data collected by DNRC at more than 130 stream gages will be ...
Surface Water Data Collection and Watershed Assessments to Support Water Management Water Management Bureau State of Montana, Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Helena, MT
Statewide Real-time Stream Gage Network
Abstract
Legacy Streamflow Data N
Legacy data collected by DNRC at more than 130 stream gages will be included in the SWAMP streamflow web portal. This data has been used by DNRC staff and project partners upon request, but now the streamflow data can be easily accessed online by the public and cooperators. Legacy data from the MBMG Ground Water Investigation Program, USGS, and other State agencies or cooperators also will be accessible through the web portal.
During the State Water Planning process, each of the four Basin Advisory Councils recognized that access to water information facilitates water management, water planning, and water development. As a result, the State Water Plan includes a recommendation for the State of Montana to develop a network of year-round stream gages to gather and distribute real-time streamflow information from surface water resources not monitored by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). To this end, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) will establish a network of 100 permanent stream gages over the next 10 years to monitor real-time streamflows at key locations on smaller streams and tributaries, irrigation projects, and municipal water supplies. These stream gages will be strategically placed to support decisions related to integrated management of Montana’s water resources. Real-time streamflow data will be disseminated via the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology (MBMG) surface water web mapping application.
Freighter Springs Section
The stream gaging network is part of the Surface Water Assessment and Monitoring Program (SWAMP) initiated jointly by DNRC and MBMG to collect, evaluate, and disseminate surface water data to support water distribution, planning and water management by State and Federal regulatory agencies, water commissioners, and water users in general. In addition to the gaging network and data dissemination via the MBMG mapping application, SWAMP includes a systematic program of watershed investigations to support water management, climate change impact analysis, watershed modeling, water distribution under decrees, groundwater investigations, water quality programs, and applied research by the Montana University system. Figure 3: MBMG surface water web mapping application with existing and legacy stream gages for USGS, MBMG, and DNRC.
Project Objectives 1. Launch a real-time stream gaging network (Table 1) and establish individual gages based on: • Local need and support • Multi-purpose and statewide distribution • Site suitability, feasibility, access, and cost.
Summary
4. Conduct watershed investigations to support water distribution, drought and water supply planning subject to changing climate and increasing demands for water. Justification
•
Montana citizens will be able to use real-time streamflow information to implement plans and agreements that address locally developed drought, fish habitat, water leasing, or water supply objectives.
•
Streamflow data will assist DNRC with administering the Montana Water Use Act, including new appropriations, change applications, decree enforcement, and implementation of federal water right compacts.
•
Information generated through the network will also assist DNRC with planning for the long-term sustainability of the state’s water resources, developing basin water budgets, evaluating water supplies on multiple scales, and evaluating proposals to increase storage.
Public Accessible Streamflow Information
3. Disseminate surface-water data via the MBMG web mapping application.
Gage Name
Hydrologic information generated through the network will provide state agencies, federal agencies, Montana’s water user community, and the public with access to accurate, high quality, real-time streamflow, and storage data from gaging stations across Montana.
Figure 1: Locations of existing and proposed real-time stream gages for the next two years (a total of 20 stream gages). The total number of permanent stream gages is expected to increase to 100 over the next 10 years.
2. Public Accessible Streamflow Information including: • Real-time streamflow data • Legacy streamflow data.
Location
•
Target Installation Date
Major River Basin
•
Beta testing an interactive map (http://data.mbmg.mtech.edu/beta/mapper.asp) that will allow easy access to streamflow data .
•
Data will be available for viewing or downloading (Figure 2).
•
Options such as statistics and graphs will be available.
Real-time Gages Installed 1
Nevada Creek Below Reservoir
Real time data is utilized by the Nevada Creek Water Users Association dam tender to manage the reservoir and releases of contract water.
Installed 2014
Clark Fork
2
North Fork Blackfoot River at Ryan Bridge
Real time data is utilized by the Blackfoot Challenge Drought committee to asses flow conditions in a critical Bull Trout migration reach.
Installed 2014
Clark Fork
3
Frenchman Creek near Mouth
Real time data is utilized by the Frenchman Creek Water Users Association dam tender to manage the reservoir elevation and releases of contract water.
Installed 2014
Lower Missouri
4
East Fork Rock Main Canal above Siphon
Real time data supports reservoir management and release of contract water by DNRC and the Flint Creek Water Users Association.
Installed 2014
Clark Fork
5
East Fork Rock Creek below Reservoir
Real time data supports reservoir management and release of contract water by DNRC and the Flint Creek Water Users Association.
Installed 2015
Clark Fork
6
East Fork Rock Creek above Reservoir
Real time data supports reservoir management and release of contract water by DNRC and the Flint Creek Water Users Association.
Installed 2015
Clark Fork
7
East Fork Rock Creek Main Canal below Fish Screen
Real time data supports reservoir management and release of contract water by DNRC and the Flint Creek Water Users Association.
Installed 2015
Clark Fork
8
Sourdough Creek above City of Bozeman Intake
Real time data is utilized by the City of Bozeman for public water supply use.
Installed 2015
Upper Missouri
9
Sweet Grass Creek at Tronrud Bridge
Real time data supports better management of water deliveries to about 14,000 acres of irrigation in the watershed and two off-stream storage reservoirs.
Installed 2015
Yellowstone
10
Middle Creek below Reservoir
Real time data is utilized to manage a State Project.
Installed 2008
Upper Missouri
11
Ruby River at Harrington Bridge
Real time data is utilized by the Ruby River Watershed Council and other users.
Installed 2015
Upper Missouri
Acknowledgements DNRC would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the state, federal, and private cooperators for support and funding this project and providing installation and maintenance assistance.
Proposed Real-time Gages 12
Canyon Creek at Zoo Montana
Will aid local irrigation district personnel with water management, in particular waste water management.
2015-2016
Yellowstone
13
Ashley Creek above Kalispell
Will support DNRC review of new appropriations on the source. City of Kalispell would utilize flow data for effluent discharge requirements to the source.
2015-2016
Clark Fork
14
Wise River at Highway 43 Bridge
Will support development of a Wise River drought management plan by the Big Hole Watershed Committee.
2015-2016
Upper Missouri
15
West Fork Hyalite Creek
Will support reservoir management by DNRC and the Middle Creek Water Users Association.
2015-2016
Upper Missouri
16
West Fork Bitterroot above Painted Rocks Reservoir
Will support reservoir management by DNRC and the Painted Rock Water Users Association.
2015-2016
Clark Fork
17
Young Creek at USFS Boundary
Will support water management on the source. Flow data would be utilized by DNRC/Public for: dispute resolution, changes and new appropriations.
2015-2016
Kootenai
18
E.Gallatin River at Gallatin River Ranch
Will support local water management, recreational users, and improve the understanding of irrigation return flows and tributary contributions to the system.
2015-2016
Upper Missouri
19
Lolo Creek below Highway 93 Bridge
Will support local water management, recreational users, and improve the understanding of irrigation return flows.
2015-2016
Clark Fork
20
Tongue and Yellowstone Canal Below The largest irrigation diversion on the Tongue River provides water to about 9,400 acres. A realHeadgate time gage would allow for improved management of river diversions.
2015-2016
Yellowstone
Table 1: Existing and proposed real-time stream gages. Location numbers correlate to Figure 1.
Figure 2: MBMG surface water web mapping application and streamflow data portal.
