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On3JH PRIORITIES OF GOALS FINDING 9 - SETTING STREAM GAGING GOALS SHOULD FOLLOW BASIC PRINCIPLES While the relative priority of goals varied considerably across the regions of the nation as heard at the workshops, there were some basic principles which should guide any discussion of setting goals: I, Recognition that each goal is important to someone. 2. Recognition that gages which serve multiple goals should receive top priority 3, Recognition that priorities vary among states and regions, therefore decisions on gage coverage should be made at the State level with local user input. FINDING JO - NOT ALL GOALS ARE TREATED EQUAL While little consensus was gained in the workshop sessions, it was clear that certain goals definitely drive stream gage network configuration, while other goals supplement support for additional gages. The "driving goals" include flow forecasting, major basin trends, water quality, and river compact requirements, Those goals which may "nudge" additional gages into the existing network include reservoirs, boundary issues, water supply management, navigation, federal lands, recreation and fisheries, In cases where all other factors are equal, the gage which supports these "nudging" goals should get priority over another gage which does not, FINDING 11 - SET GOALS NATIONALLY, MEET NEEDS LOCALLY Because of the diversity of opinion on gage coverage priority across the regions and, in recognition of the continual call for state and local flexibility to meet information needs; the use of goals should be confined to evaluating the national base network under NSIP. These goals represent matters of federal interest and perspective and provide information for "big picture" analysis of the Nation's water resources beyond water management needs, On the other hand, water resource management needs are regional or local in nature and should be accommodated by the Co-Op Program, involving multiple cooperators along with the USGS. Recognizing the divergent needs among states for streamflow information, a national perspective on the placement of gages within a state using the cooperative approach is better served by identifying guiding principles and eligibility criteria for co-op funding for states to consider, rather than overarching national goals to be achieved, Specific goals for streamgage support of water management needs should be defined by the State cooperator and USGS District level to configure the appropriate intrastate gaging network.