How High is the River?

How High is the River?. . , The structure to the right contains a streamgage that records water levels (stage) in the Potomac River. Water levels at this site are measured by sensing the air pressure required to force air bubbles into the river. The water in the river at this location is affected by the same tides that affect the ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, but the water here is fresh, not salty or even brackish., The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) monitors water quantity and quality. USGS data are used for studying, managing, or forecasting: ,

. Water resources and supply , . Floods and droughts , . Climate change , . Bridge and infrastructure design , . Reservoir operations , . Water quality , . Stormwater and stream restoration , . In-stream flows for habitats , . Recreational safety , . Navigation

, Streamgages , This is USGS Streamgage 01647600, Potomac River at Wisconsin Avenue, Washington, D.C. Use this number to see how high the river is for this site and other water data at www.usgs.gov., The USGS operates this streamgage in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Park Service. The USGS has measured water levels on the Potomac River in Georgetown since 1935. The USGS operates more than 100 streamgages along the Potomac River and its tributaries and over 7,600 streamgages across the Nation., Monitoring the Potomac River Watershed , A "watershed" is an area of land from which water drains into a particular body of water. The Potomac River receives its water from an area that covers nearly 15,000 square miles in four states and the District of Columbia. The Potomac River empties into the Chesapeake Bay 112 miles downstream from this site., If you live or work in the area, you may be one of the nearly 5 million people who receive drinking water from the Potomac River watershed. Monitoring water quantity and quality in the entire watershed is vital, because what happens upstream affects people and the environment downstream., Caption: , This photo is the Potomac River below K Street near 31st Street when the stage was at 13.88 feet on January 21, 1996. At a stage of 12 feet, the river will submerge this streamgage and reach nearby Wisconsin Avenue.