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<br />OJ 33 2 0 <br /> <br />ROLE OF NSIP FUNDING <br /> <br />With the advent ofNSIP, the opportunity to infuse addition federal funding into stream gages <br />is provided through USGS. The question of how to direct future USGS funding increases centers <br />on three options: <br /> <br />I) Shift streamgages within the Co-Op program or supported by other Federal agencies into <br />the NSIP, thereby freeing the funding of the cooperator or Federal agency, <br /> <br />2) Initiate and support new or reactivated streamgages and grow the network <br /> <br />3) Cover more of the the infrastructure costs, lowering the unit costs on all gages borne by <br />cooperators or other Federal agencies, <br /> <br />FINDING 15 - STABILITY OF THE EXISTlNGGAGE NETWORK HAS TOP PRIORITY <br /> <br />The general consensus across the nation is that lowering the infrastrUcture cost, thereby, <br />reducing the unit cost of a gage to the cooperator is a top priority because this approach works <br />toward re-establishing the historic SO/50 match of gage costs within the Co,Op program and supports <br />greater stability for continuation of the gage, <br /> <br />FINDING 16 _ GROW THE NETWORK BY RECLAIMING IT STEADILY, NOT EXPANDING IT <br />RAPIDLY <br /> <br />Growing the network beyond current dimensions is seen as a long term proposition, seizing <br />upon the occasional funding opportunities within Congress to reclaim discontinued gages or install <br />new stations, As a rule, reactivation was the preferred method of building the network over <br />installing new gages. Reactivation allows historic records to be reclaimed and re-established. <br />Installing new gages should be reserved for serious gaps in spatial coverage in meeting the NSIP <br />goals or cooperator management needs, Growth in the network must be tempered by the ability of <br />the USGS and any cooperators to support the increased future operation and maintenance <br />expenditures associated with the additional gages. <br /> <br />Maintaining the existing network has a higher priority than additions to the network because <br />of the need to protect the existing population of gaging stations with long term (30 years or more) <br />records. Moreover, there is anticipated to be a lag in converting federal capital appropriations into <br />proper gage additions to the existing network, therefore, the national network should be implemented <br />over the next ten years following adoption of this report. <br /> <br />FINDING 17 _ EXCHANGE GAGES, NOT DOLLARS BETWEEN NSIP AND CO-OP <br /> <br />The concept of moving Co-Op gages into the NSlP, thereby releasing the non-federal <br />cooperator funds was met coolly, because of pressing concerns that loss of a financial stake in a <br />gages, forfeits the cooperator's power to influence the future of the gage, and by extension, the shape <br />of the network, Furthermore, there was wide recognition that non-federal funds freed by shifting <br />gages into NSIP likely would not be re-directed toward building the network through the Co-Op <br />