| Most automated river gages in Idaho are
maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Bureau of Reclamation. These gages record
the river stage every 15 minutes. Many of the gages are equipped with communication
devices that allow the NWS (and other State and Federal agencies) to access
"real-time" river data as needed. Communication with these automated gages is done in one of two ways. Many
gages have a Data Collection Platform
(DCP) that is connected to the
stream-gaging equipment. The DCP stores the data from the gage and then transmits the data
through a geostationary satellite (GOES). A few DCP platforms also have automated rain
gages; Precipitation data is relayed along with the river stage.
Other gages have a Limited Automatic Remote Collector (LARC) installed that connects the river gage to a telephone. Data from these
sites is downloaded via a modem, generally about once an hour. |
www.weather.gov 
