Freshwater DataStream data map

About Freshwater DataStream

This Freshwater DataStream database holds current and historical continuous data on Washington state’s rivers and streams.

Automatic gages at active telemetry freshwater monitoring stations log data every 15 or 30 minutes, depending on the station. The data transmit directly into our Freshwater DataStream database in Olympia, Washington, every three hours, either via a GOES satellite transmitter or a modem.

Non-continuous, or “discrete” data are recorded by scientists during periodic sampling events, producing series over time. These discrete measurements are found in FIN, our Freshwater Information Networkopen_in_new database.

More on these data

Four types of continuous data are displayed in the Freshwater DataStream application:

  • Streamflow
  • Water quality
  • Rainfall
  • Instream flow compared with actual flow

Most of our telemetry stations collect streamflowopen_in_new data, information on the amount of water in a river or stream. To learn more about how we collect these data, see River and stream flow monitoring methodsopen_in_new.

Some telemetry stations collect information on river and stream water qualityopen_in_new. There are both current and historical data points from continuous water quality measurements in the Freshwater DataStream application. For discrete data from the long-term water quality (ambient) monitoring programopen_in_new, see the Freshwater Information Networkopen_in_new (FIN) application.

Some stations record rainfall to provide early warning for landslide-prone areas.

Gage data for instream flowsopen_in_new for basins with instream flows set by rule is in the Instream Flows tab above. There you will find graphs that compare the legal instream flow amounts to actual water levels. You will need to know the name of your watershed or use choose your watershed/WRIAopen_in_new to select the correct basin.