The California Department of Water Resources is opening applications for the California Stream Gage Improvement Program (CalSIP), allowing local agencies to install or upgrade stream gage systems in their areas.
Stream gages help measure, record and transmit data on water flow, temperature and dissolved oxygen levels. DWR estimates that there are currently 1,000 active gages across California. Live stream data will be made available to the public through the California Data Exchange Center, which will be certified by a civil engineer or hydrologist annually.
According to CalSIP guidelines, proposed projects can cover the costs of installing new gages, incorporating existing data into public databases, reactivating older gages, upgrading existing gages, purchasing other stream gaging equipment or maintaining gages.
The deadline to fully execute agreements is June 30, 2025. Eligible entities for the project include city and county agencies, “special districts,” which includes groundwater sustainability agencies, colleges and universities and federally recognized tribes. Local agencies will have to independently install and operate the gage, according to the release.