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5' Memorandum to Rod Kuharich 8/23/2006 Page 4 t Replacement of Satellite Telemetry EQuipment . DWR requests $248,000 for replacement of 55 out-dated DCPs and associated satellite telemetry equipment and upgrading satellite transmission components. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) operates the satellite via which we relay the water flow data to the central computer in Denver. The use of this satellite and all the ancillary hardware and software, including staffing, is valued at $430 million dollars and is provided to the State of Colorado at no charge. The worldwide use of the satellite has increased to the point that, in the future, more data will be transmitted more often. NOAA has, therefore, mandated that all DCPs using the satellite for data transmission must be upgraded to transmit at a faster rate by 201:3. Many of the DCPs that DWR operates cannot be upgraded. The useful life of the equipment averages ten years. Therefore, in order to continue using the present system to collect and transmit basic stream flow data, all sets of electronic equipment must be replaced over the next ten years. Since DWR operates over 450 total sets of DCP equipment this equates to an average of about 45 replacements per year. This new standard for faster transmission rates for sending data from the stream gages to the central computer has greatly improved the 'real-time' nature of the system. With new high data rate DCPs in operation, data transmission changes from once every four hours to every hour. The cost of new DCPs with the new radios is $2,700. To replace antennas, batteries, gage height sensors, solar panels, wiring, grounding equipment, etc., the total cost per site averages $4200. Flood HardeninQ/Hiah Flow Measurement Sustainabilitv at Existina Stream GaQes This part of the gaging station program involves flood hardening those stream gages used for notification in the event of floods or dam breaks. Flood hardening, by definition, allows for stream flow data to continue to be transmitted during a flood event. Flood hardening prevents the need to develop a plan to remove all . equipment from stream gages prior to their destruction by floods. While this equipment removal saves equipment costs, this does not allow for data transmission during flood events to emergency managers and the public. Flood hardening involves moving or modifying the existing stream gages so that they can continue to operate during flood events. Some times it may be necessary to add a second gage at the site on higher ground so that the low flows needed for accurate water administration can be measured and the high flows of floods also can be measured. Another form of flood hardening involves rebuilding the stream channel so that accurate data will continue to be available during the flood. Often the stream channel becomes scoured or modified to the point that existing relationships between stage and discharge are no longer valid at high flow. Even if the stage data continues to be available, it is of little or no value in determining the flow of the river. High flow discharge measurements at DWR stream gages are important for maintaining/updating the high flow portion of the gage's stage-discharge relationship. This calibration consequently improves the accuracy of high flows reported at the gage(s). High flows at stream gages are measured from cableways at the gage or from nearby up- or downstream bridges. Cableways at DWR stream gages are given a detailed inspection each four years. During the past 4 years many cableways, primarily because of age, have been found to need replacement of key components of the cableway system. High flow measurement sustainability projects address such identified cableway design/safe use issues. These may include replacement of cable, improvements to the cable anchorage system, replacement of A-frame components, replacement of cable cars, etc. Alternatively, existing cableways found to have design or safe use deficiencies eire, under certain site conditions, being replaced with bank-operated cableways. .