STREAMSTATS: A U.S. Geological Survey web site for stream information

Abstract Streamflow statistics, such as the 100-year flood and the 7-day, 10-year low flow, are needed for water-resources planning and management; for design of bridges, culverts, and flood-control structures; and for many other purposes. This paper describes the National Streamstats (STREAMSTATS) computer application currently in development by the U.S. Geological Survey for providing streamflow statistics to the public. STREAMSTATS works through a Web browser to provide various types of streamflow statistics for data-collection stations and for ungauged sites. STREAMSTATS users can point and click on data-collection stations shown on a map in their Web browser window to obtain streamflow statistics and other information for the stations. Users also can point and click on any stream shown on the map to get estimates of streamflow statistics for ungauged sites. STREAMSTATS determines the watershed boundaries and measures physical and climatic characteristics of the watersheds for the ungauged sites by use of a Geographic Information System, and then it inserts the characteristics into previously determined regression equations to estimate the streamflow statistics. Compared to manual methods, STREAMSTATS reduces the average time needed to estimate streamflow statistics for ungauged sites from several hours to several minutes