How DER monitored streamflow
In the past, DER has maintained streamgaging stations across the state. At each streamgaging station, water level was continuously recorded and logged by a pressure transducer and/or was manually read from a staff gage by volunteers. DER staff made a series of streamflow (discharge) measurements at low, medium, and high flows. We used the relationship between these measurements and the corresponding water level (gage depth) to establish rating curves. We regularly visited all sites to check the accuracy of the rating curve and update it if the river had changed enough to affect the curve.
More information about our methods may be found by reading the RIFLS Quality Assurance Project Plan and in the U.S. EPA's Best Practices for Continuous Monitoring of Temperature and Flow in Wadeable Streams.
View our Streamflow Data
DER manages a website where you can view all streamflow data of our monitoring sites.