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. "-~7 Infonnation on the tlO\\-' of rivers is a vital national asset that safeguards lives and property and ensures adequate \vater resources for a healthy economy. Beginning with the first streamllow gage opemted by the State Engineer's Ollice, now the Divi- sion of Water Resources (DWR), in 1881, the numberofstreamllow gages in Colo- rado has grown to more than 600 today. Statc\'Iiide streamgaging programs now are administered by the DWR and the United States Geological Survey (USGS), and have support from more than 60 cooperating organizations. Those programs are closely coordinated between the DWR, the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) and the USGS to help ensure the data are compamble and easily accessible to every- one, including the provision of real-time data on the World Wide Web, Other orga- nizations. including the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and Forest Service. Northern Colorado \Vater Conservancy District. and the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, also collect streamflow information to support their project needs and make those data available to water users and managers. The process of gathering and pub- lishing these data is a combined effort at numerous levels. as described below. INTRODUCTION The DWR State Engineer, the CWCB Director, and the USGS Colorado District Chief meet twice a year to discuss major work issues that concern all entities. Topics include current projects, litigation involving water-quantification issues, and ongo- ing evaluations of the adequacy of the gage-network operations and coverage. HIGH LEVEL COORDINATION Coordination of equipment purchases to upgrade streamgages also is discussed at these meetings. A joint funding agreement is renewed annually bet\veen the State and the USGS, This agreement allows the State to buy specialized equipment directly through the USGS Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility, Joint Funding Agreement DATA CHIEF COORDINATION Coordination meetings also occur between the DWR Lead Hydrographers, the CWCB Gaging Coordinator, and the USGS Data Chiefs three times a year. These meetings enable our agencies to work cohesively and to effectively coordi- nate our work efforts. Mutual objectives, opportunities. and conflicts are discussed and coordinated to facilitate better opera- tions for all three agencies. . r COI'\TENTS introduction High Level Coordination Data Chief Coordination Direct Field Staff Coordination Training Coordination Gaging Station Coordination Funding Coordination For lwore Information Map of Stream Gages