USGS Texas

Monitor conditions through the weekend including NWS flood status conditions at gages throughout TX. Include overlays of up-to-date radar as well as NWS flood alerts. Stay aware of conditons using the USGS National Water Dashboard and stay safe! https://ow.ly/mLjN50Wl8Jl

Today, we celebrate 100 years of 💦 📈 at monitoring location 08049500 West Fork Trinity River at Grand Prairie, Texas. (See photo 1 taken May 2012) Data for this site can be found at https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/08049500/

Initially established on March 25, 1925, the USGS installed a standard chain gage to the downstream handrail of the bridge on the Grand Prairie-Irving Highway (now known as Belt Line Rd). This simple gage could measure water elevation until a recording gage was installed in 1933. For an idea of what the site looked like during site installation, see photo 2 which was taken on Mar 7, 1925.

The first field measurement of gage height of 2.30 ft and streamflow of 27.8 cfs (cubic feet per second) were recorded on March 20, 1925 by R.G. West. (see photo 3)

Photo 4, taken on July 25, 1957 by J.H.M., shows a metal shelter over a concrete well where stage was recorded until April 4, 2003. It was noted that the stage was 2.67 ft and the streamflow was about 200 cfs.

Site 08049500 is now a satellite-enabled gage transmitting real-time data on gage height, streamflow, rainfall, water temperature, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, pH, and turbidity. These data are critical to water supply decisions made by the Fort Worth District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Trinity River Authority of Texas, the City of Fort Worth, the City of Dallas Water Utilities, all of whom contribute financially to the gage's ongoing maintenance and operation.

In addition to being part of the Federal Priority Streamgage Network, predictions of stage and flow are also made at this site by the US National Weather Service West Gulf River Forecast Center https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/GPRT2

Fun fact 📢: The highest recorded discharge measurement of 64,400 cfs was recorded on May 3, 1990. ‼️ That is more than double the streamflow of 25,600 cfs as seen here in this photo, taken on September 9, 2010 (photo 5).

Please help us 🥳 celebrate the 100th birthday of site 08049500 West Fork Trinity River at Grand Prairie, Texas!

Also, follow USGS Water Resources for more as the USGS counts down to the 1000th Centennial Streamgage in August!

Dr. Steve Opsahl and Dr. MaryLynn Musgrove spoke on
hydrology and pesticide occurrence this morning. Texas was a big part of the AM session at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Karst Interest Group Workshop in Nashville. Thanks to Tennessee State University hosting! More info on this free workshop here: https://ow.ly/EfCW50TR9zo

Join us tomorrow! Are you a student or early-career professional and want to learn more about USGS careers across the region? USGS is hosting a virtual career fair on Sept 12 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm CT. Hear from USGS employees and learn about the hiring process! You must register beforehand here: https://ow.ly/ypuM50Tl3qo