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001556 COLLECTION OF WATER-RESOURCES DATA Hydrologic-data stations are maintained at seiected locations throughout Colorado and constitute a water-resources-data network for obtaining records on stream discharge and stage, reservoir and lake storage, ground-water levels, well and spring discharge, and the qual ity of surface and ground water. Every year some stations are added and others are terminated; thus, the U.S. Geological Survey has both a current and a historical file of hydrologic data. Most water-resources data are stored in the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water Data Storage and Retrieval System (WATST0RE) and are available on request to water planners and others involved in making decisions affecting Colorado's water resources. These data can be retrieved in machine-readable form or in the form of computer-printed tables, statistical analyses, and digital plots. Local assistance in the acquisi- tion of services or products from WATST0RE can be obtained from the Oistrict Chief, Lakewood, Colo. Surface-Water Data Surface-water discharge (streamflow), stage (water level), and water-quality data are collected for general hydrologic purposes, such as assessment of water resources, areal analysis, determination of long-term trends, research and special studies, or for management and operational purposes. Discharge and stage data currently are being obtained at the number of stations given below. Station classification Number of stations Stream stations------------------------------------------- Continuous record--------------------------------------- Partial record------------------------------------------ Lake and reservoir stations------------------------------- Total------------------------------------------------ 471 450 21 ..E 503 The number and type of stations located in each county are shown on plate 1 and in table 1 (p. 8, 9). Water-qual ity data are obtained at 143 of the surface-water stations listed above and also at 18 other surface-water-quality sites where discharge and stage are not measured routinely (pl. 1 and table 1). These stations are used to moni- tor the qual ity of surface water in Colorado. Some of these stations also are part of a U.S. Geological Survey nationwide network known as the National Stream Qual ity Accounting Network (NASQAN), which is used to detect nationwide trends in water quality. Not I isted in table 1 are 291 stations at which miscellaneous measurements of temperature and specific conductance are made and 87 stations at which miscellaneous measurements of temperature only are made. The types of data determined at all of these stations are given below. Inas- much as several types of data may be determined at a particular station and not all types of data are determined at each station, the numbers given below will not equal the total number of stations given earl ier. 5