Funding secured for important streamflow monitors through next year.
The Sacramento Bee reports the State Department of Water Resources has come up with the money to help keep the US Geological Survey monitors operating through 2010.
The Bee reported Aug. 4 that the U.S. Geological Survey warned it might have to shut down the sensors, known as gauges, later this year because California failed to come through with $1.2 million it owes under a 60 percent annual cost-share agreement. The state Department of Water Resources reported at the time that it had money to keep the gages operating for now, but wasn’t sure how long the money would last into 2010.
Stream monitoring helps prevent flooding, gauge river withdrawals, and help protect important fish and wildlife habitat. One of the monitors threatened to be shut down has been in operation for more than 100 years, and provides key information about valley waterways.
