The
U.S. Geological Survey has published the annual data report
series since 1961 as a means to disseminate hydrologic data.
These reports document hydrologic data gathered from the
U.S. Geological Survey's and cooperating agencies' surface-
and ground-water data-collection networks in each State,
Puerto Rico, and the Trust Territories. These records of
streamflow, ground-water levels, and water quality provide
the hydrologic information needed by State, local, and Federal
agencies, and the private sector for developing and managing
our Nation's land and water resources. The annual data report
for Alabama has been published in a book (hardcopy) format
since its inception in 1961. In an effort to standardize
the annual data reports for all USGS Water Science Centers
as well as make all published data available in one location,
the U.S. Geological Survey has developed a new web-based publication
format that has been adopted nationwide. Beginning with the
2006 water year, the water-resources data collected and published
by the USGS Alabama Water Science Center are published in
this format and available online at http://web10capp.er.usgs.gov/adr06_lookup/search.jsp.
The
new annual data report has several advantages over the traditional
book reports. First, data for individual data-collection stations
or group of stations can be published at any time after the
data are finalized and approved allowing data to be available
sooner since data for specific stations will be made public
prior to completion of the entire report. Second, the user
can customize data retrievals and select data by various
subsets such as by state, county, hydrologic unit, or by
individual sites to retrieve only the data that they specifically
need and not be encumbered by a larger report . The documentation
and hydrologic summary information that previewed the data
tables in the book reports are still available in the web-based
version. |
