NWDTW 2026

This session will highlight some general best practices when flagging, surveying, and computing indirect measurements of peak discharge, as well as identifying some common (and uncommon) mistakes.

The USGS has collected water data for over 135 years. The USGS Fundamental Science Practices (FSP) have been governing water data collection and publication for the past 20 years. How familiar are you with FSP as it pertains to water data? This presentation will (1) provide a broad overview of FSP, (2) show how FSP relates to water data collection and subsequent data publication, and (3) share available OSQI resources useful for when FSP questions arise.

This presentation will accomplish these objectives by examining three focus areas; (1) discussing data collection and approval obligations in SM 502.2 Fundamental Science Practices: Planning and Conducting Data Collection and Research and SM 502.8 Fundamental Science Practices: Review and Approval of Scientific Data for Release, (2) relating adherence of Water Mission Area Techniques and Methods to adherence of Fundamental Science Practices, (3) discussing mechanisms for reporting FSP questions to the Fundamental Science Practices Advisory Council (FSPAC), quality concerns to OSQI resources, and integrity concerns to the USGS Scientific Integrity Officer. Listeners will leave the presentation with a better understanding of how FSP relates to USGS Water data collection and publication and where to turn to when concerns arise.

This presentation will be given by Gary Burke, a staff scientist from the Office of Science Quality and Integrity (OSQI). Gary was a Field Office Chief for over 6 years prior to joining OSQI and had collected NWIS water data for over 20 years.