The US Geological Survey is having a problem with its streamgages, including some in Indiana County.
Streamgages are the devices used to monitor water levels, streamflow, and rainfall. The information they measure serves as the scientific basis for decision-making on issues related to water-related hazards, such as flooding, freshwater quality and safety for drinking, energy, industry, and other ecosystem standards.
Last Saturday, a telemetry problem knocked about fourteen percent of the country’s 8,300 streamgages offline, making them incapable of transmitting data. The USGS says its working to get them all functioning again, prioritizing those areas expecting to receive significant rainfall in the coming days.
In Indiana County, the streamgages that are currently offline includes those on the Little Mahoning Creek at McCormick, in West Mahoning Township; on Yellow Creek near Homer City; and on Two Lick Creek at Graceton.
Gauges in 43 states are affected by the outage.
