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42 U.S. Code § 10367. Water data enhancement by United States Geological Survey
(a) National streamflow information program
(1) In general
The Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory Committee and the Panel and consistent with this section, shall proceed with implementation of the national streamflow information program, as reviewed by the National Research Council in 2004.
(2) RequirementsIn conducting the national streamflow information program, the Secretary shall—
(A) measure streamflow and related environmental variables in nationally significant watersheds—
(i)
in a reliable and continuous manner; and
(ii)
to develop a comprehensive source of information on which public and private decisions relating to the management of water resources may be based;
(B)
provide for a better understanding of hydrologic extremes (including floods and droughts) through the conduct of intensive data collection activities during and following hydrologic extremes;
(C) establish a base network that provides resources that are necessary for—
(i)
the monitoring of long-term changes in streamflow; and
(ii)
the conduct of assessments to determine the extent to which each long-term change monitored under clause (i) is related to global climate change;
(D) integrate the national streamflow information program with data collection activities of Federal agencies and appropriate State water resource agencies (including the National Integrated Drought Information System)—
(i)
to enhance the comprehensive understanding of water availability;
(ii)
to improve flood-hazard assessments;
(iii)
to identify any data gap with respect to water resources; and
(iv)
to improve hydrologic forecasting; and
(E)
incorporate principles of adaptive management in the conduct of periodic reviews of information collected under the national streamflow information program to assess whether the objectives of the national streamflow information program are being adequately addressed.