SB 88 requires diverters to measure diverted water flow and/or volume, then report the measurements. For small to medium-sized diversions and reservoirs, there is a often transducer measuring and recording pressure. The pressure data has to be converted to depth and flow, or depth and volume. Data may be hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly. Whatever the frequency, the Water Board want
s data files uploaded with annual Reports and Supplemental Statements.
Where’s the manual for how to do this, for any of several data loggers, and for meters, weirs, flumes, and orifices, and flumes? It exists in pieces and parts. Each data logger manufacturer has a manual for each product. Sometimes products are similar, and sometimes very different, as are the manuals. The long-existing measuring devices, weirs, flumes, and orifices, are described and general measurement instructions listed in the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Water Measurement Manual.
When it comes right down to it, a person has to be a “data-head” to enjoy collecting the data, and going through all of it to find bad results, missing data, and odd trends. Then stage and flow have to be calculated and checked against periodic readings taken during visits to the reservoir or stream. Data have to be listed in a format to upload with the Report or Supplemental Statement to the Water Board, and summed monthly to fill out the online form.
If you enjoy educating yourself and taking on new tasks, then you can be a data-head. If not, then you’ll need to have an employee do it, or more likely hire an expert.
Who are the experts? There are engineering firms, manufacturers, vendors and others who can download data for you. It still comes down to the person helping you That person who does the work has to have done data reduction, calculations, checking, and quality control in the past.
Make sure you get help from someone who knows data inside and out! If the Water Board has any questions, your data-head can explain and defend every bit of it for you. He or she will already know the answers to any questions that come up.