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USGS/partners install nine new gauging sites; data flowing to National Water Dashboard
Summary
Presenters reported nine of 13 planned surface‑water gauges in the Great Salt Lake basin are installed, stage‑discharge ratings developed, and near‑real‑time data available on the National Water Dashboard; committee also flagged a collapsed North Arm elevation piling that will require costly repair or lower‑cost temporary fixes for continued monitoring.
Brian, the meeting's lake elevation presenter, updated the council on monitoring progress and measurement challenges. He said cooperators (including the Bureau of Reclamation) have installed nine new gauges in the Great Salt Lake basin so far and that stage‑discharge ratings were developed for those sites. He added that near‑real‑time stage and discharge data are now available on the National Water Dashboard.
Measurement challenges: Brian described ongoing measurement complications at some sites, including backwater effects near the new breach that rendered a stage/discharge rating less reliable during some conditions and the collapse of the North Arm lake elevation piling close to the new breach. He said replacing that piling via barge and pile‑driving is likely to be costly and that the group is exploring alternatives such as a track‑hoe installation to reduce mobilization expenses.
Flow observations: monthly direct measurements at the new breach have shown roughly 1,000 CFS south‑to‑north flow recently with a small counterflow at the surface in the opposite direction during some measurements; a recent verified north‑to‑south instantaneous measurement was about 107 CFS at one gauge. Brian cautioned that north‑to‑south flows are difficult to quantify and that dynamic lake conditions may cause under‑sampling of important fluxes.
Direct quote: "We have 9 new gauges installed in the Great Salt Lake Basin so far," Brian said, adding that the new gauges now appear on the National Water Dashboard. He also noted the collapsed piling problem: replacing the pile is "very, very expensive" and the team is exploring lower‑cost installation methods.
What comes next: the monitoring team will complete installation of the remaining four gauges, finalize stage‑discharge ratings, and provide updated berm profiles and discharge numbers at the next meeting. The group recommended documenting temporary fixes and the costs of different installation methods to guide future monitoring investments.
