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Home / Collections json

Data collections in this service

Name Description
Latest continuous This endpoint provides the most recent observation for each time series of continuous data. Continuous data are collected via automated sensors installed at a monitoring location. They are collected at a high frequency and often at a fixed 15-minute...
Daily values Daily data provide one data value to represent water conditions for the day. Throughout much of the history of the USGS, the primary water data available was daily data collected manually at the monitoring location once each day. With improved...
Latest daily values Daily data provide one data value to represent water conditions for the day. Throughout much of the history of the USGS, the primary water data available was daily data collected manually at the monitoring location once each day. With improved...
Field measurements Field measurements are physically measured values collected during a visit to the monitoring location. Field measurements consist of measurements of gage height and discharge, and readings of groundwater levels, and are primarily used as calibration...
Time series metadata Daily data and continuous measurements are grouped into time series, which represent a collection of observations of a single parameter, potentially aggregated using a standard statistic, at a single monitoring location. This endpoint provides...
Monitoring locations Location information is basic information about the monitoring location including the name, identifier, agency responsible for data collection, and the date the location was established. It also includes information about the type of location, such as...

Metadata collections in this service

Name Description
Agency codes Code identifying the agency or organization used for site information, data sources, and permitting agencies. Agency codes are fixed values assigned by the National Water Information System (NWIS).
Altitude datums The recommended vertical datum is NAVD88 (North American Vertical Datum of 1988) where applicable as stated in Office of Information Technical Memo 2002.01. NGVD29 (National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929) and NAVD88 are the only datums that can be...
Aquifer codes Local aquifers in USGS data are identified by an aquifer name and geohydrologic unit code (a three-digit number related to the age of the formation, followed by a 4 or 5 character abbreviation for the geologic unit or aquifer name). For the age of...
Aquifer types Groundwater occurs in aquifers under two different conditions. Where water only partly fills an aquifer, the upper surface is free to rise and decline. These aquifers are referred to as unconfined (or water-table) aquifers. Where water completely...
Coordinate accuracy codes Appropriate code on the schedule to indicate the accuracy of the latitude-longitude values.
Coordinate datum codes Horizontal datum code for the latitude/longitude coordinates. There are currently more than 300 horizontal datums available for entry.
Coordinate method codes Methods used to determine latitude-longitude values.
Hydrologic unit codes (HUCs) Hydrologic units are geographic areas representing part or all of a surface drainage basin or distinct hydrologic feature identified by a unique number (HUC), and a name. The United States is divided and sub-divided into successively smaller...
Medium codes Medium refers to the specific environmental medium from which the sample was collected. Medium type differs from site type because one site type, such as surface water, could have data for several media, such as water, bottom sediment, fish tissue, and others.
National aquifer codes National aquifers are the principal aquifers or aquifer systems in the United States, defined as regionally extensive aquifers or aquifer systems that have the potential to be used as a source of potable water.
Parameter codes Parameter codes are 5-digit codes and associated descriptions used to identify the constituent measured and the units of measure. Some parameter code definitions include information about the sampling matrix, fraction, and methods used to measure the...
Reliability codes Code indicating the reliability of the data available for the site.
Site types The hydrologic cycle setting or a man-made feature thought to affect the hydrologic conditions measured at a site. Primary and secondary site types associated with data collection sites. All sites have a primary site type, and may additionally have a...
Statistic codes Statistic codes.
Topographic codes The code that best describes the topographic setting in which the site is located. Topographic setting refers to the geomorphic features in the vicinity of the site.
Time zone codes Time zone offset. An ANSI SQL/92 time zone offset string. Some examples are '-07:00' (Eastern), '+02:00' (Eastern Europe), and '+03:30' (India).