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Frequently Asked Questions

Each day the Connecticut District receives numerous inquiries, by telephone, mail or e-mail, from citizens attempting to obtain scientific information on a wide variety of subjects. We try to answer every request related to our mission or expertise and try to identify the agency or person responsible or knowledgeable for subjects not within our mission or expertise. Listed below are some of the most frequently asked questions.

1. How can I obtain streamflow and groundwater level data?
2. What is stream stage and how does it relate to depth or discharge?
3. How do I get low-flow and flood frequency statistics?
4. How do I obtain a USGS topographic map?
5. How do I obtain a USGS publication?
6. How do I obtain satellite images?
7. How do I obtain an aerial photograph?
8. How can I get information on earthquakes?
9. How do I obtain information on projects and activities of the USGS in Connecticut?
10. How can I get information on job openings in the USGS?
11. Where can I get precipitation and air temperature data?
12. Where can I get data on soils?
13. Where can I get geologic maps?
14. How do I get information on wetlands?
15. How can I get information on flood plains?
16. How do I get data on map projections and other data on how USGS maps are made?
17. Where can I get information on benchmarks?
18. Where can I get the water from my local well tested?
19. Where can I get information on the health effects of radon and other substances in water?
20. Where can I find standards for drinking water in Connecticut?
21. Where can I find information on fish consumption advisories for Connecticut?
22. Where in Connecticut are USGS Water Resources Division Offices located?
    
    
    
    

1. Q. How can I obtain streamflow and groundwater level data?

A. Historic and current data on surface water, groundwater and water quality can be accessed on the Connecticut District Public Home Page at http://ct.water.usgs.gov/. Click on Blue button labeled "Data". Links are provided for stations in Connecticut and nationwide. If you do not have access to the World Wide Web, call or write the USGS Connecticut Data Section Chief:

Supervisory Hydrologist, Hydrologic Data Section
USGS CT Water Science Center
101 Pitkin St.
East Hartford, CT 06108	
Voice 860-291-6740
Fax 860-291-6799

2. Q. What is stream stage and how does it relate to depth or discharge?

A. Stage at a gaging station is the height of the water surface of the stream (or lake) measured from an arbitrary datum that is usually below the elevation of the lowest expected range of stage or near the stream bottom. Therefore, stage may sometimes be close to the depth of water at the gage but not always so, depending on where the arbitrary "zero" of the datum is placed. Mean sea level elevation of the water surface may be calculated by adding the recorded stage at the gage to the elevation of the gage datum, where it has been determined.

At each station, a relation is developed, the stage-discharge relation, which is used continuously to compute discharge in cubic feet per second from stage (gage height). The relation is developed over time by correlating discharge measurements made over a range of flows with stage. This relation varies from station to station, and from time to time. It can change with shifting sediment in the channel, with growth and decay of weeds in the water, or with ice cover in the winter. If there is a log jam or ice jam in the channel the relation may not apply at all.

3. Q. How do I get low-flow and flood frequency statistics?

A. Limited statistics are published in the annual series of data reports entitled "Water Resources Data Connecticut 20__". These publications can be accessed on the Connecticut District Home Page at http://ct.water.usgs.gov. Click on the blue box labeled "Data" and follow the links to Annual Reports. In addition, flood frequency estimates were updated in 2003 in a USGS report "Peak-Flow Frequency Estimates for U.S. Geological Survey Streamflow-Gaging Stations in Connecticut" (Water Resources Investigations Report 03-4196). This publication can be accessed on the Connecticut Home Page at http://ct.water.usgs.gov. Click on the blue button labeled "Publications" and look for the title of the report.

4. Q. How do I obtain a USGS topographic map?

A. Information of purchasing topographic maps can be found at http://topomaps.usgs.gov/index.html or call 1-888-ASK USGS. Topographic maps and index maps for Connecticut may be viewed at (but not purchased) from the local USGS office in East Hartford. Maps of Connecticut are also available for purchase fro the Connecticut Dept. of Environmental Protection bookstore--the DEP store. Call (860) 424-3555 or go to http://www.ct.gov/dep.

 USGS Information Services
 Box 25286 
 Denver Federal Center
 Denver, CO 80225
 (Tel: 888-ASK-USGS or 303-202-4700)
 FAX 303-202-4693)

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5. Q. How do I obtain a USGS publication?

A. Information on USGS publications is available from the USGS Publications Warehouse at http://infotrek.er.usgs.gov/pubs. A list of publications about Connecticut is available on the District Public Home Page at http://ct.water.usgs.gov. Click on the blue box labeled "Publications", then click on "Publications about Connecticut". Selected USGS Publications about Connecticut may be available from the local USGS office in East Hartford. Please fill out a data request for information.

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6. Q. How do I obtain satellite images?

A. Contact:

  Customer Services
  USGS EROS Data Center
  Sioux Falls, SD 57198
  (Tel: 605-594-6151)      
          

Or see the EROS Data Center's web page

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7. Q. How do I obtain an aerial photograph?

A. Call 1-888-ASK-USGS or contact EROS Data Center (see question 6)

Or see the EROS Data Center's web page.

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8. Q. How can I get information on earthquakes?

A. Historical data on major earthquakes in the U.S. is published in Professional Paper 1527. For other earthquake information contact:

U.S.Geological Survey
National Earthquake Information Center 
Box 25046, DFC, MS967
Denver, CO 80225
(Tel: 303-273-8500)
(Fax: 303-273-8450)

More information is available at the National Earthquake Center.

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9. Q. How do I obtain information on projects and activities of the USGS in Connecticut?

A. You may request a copy of "Water-Resources Investigations in Connecticut" from Mike Colombo (see question 5). There is also project information on the Connecticut WSC Home Page.

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10. Q. Where can I find information about jobs with the USGS?

A. Visit the USGS Employment Page. There you will find information on current job openings, student employment, volunteer opportunities, and you can also submit your application online.

11. Q. Where can I get precipitation and air temperature data?

A. Contact NOAA at:

National Climatic Data Center
Room 120
151 Patton Avenue
Ashville, NC 28801-5001
(Tel: 704-271-4800)
(Fax: 704-271-4876)

Monthly precipitation data is available on the WWW.

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12. Q. Where can I get data on soils?

A. See the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service web page on Soil Resources Data

A list of published soil surveys are available on the WWW.

For National digital soils data, try the (SSURGO); for state level digital data see the State Soils Geographic Database (STATSGO)

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13. Q. Where can I get geologic maps?

A. Generally, the Connecticut Geological and Natural History Survey is the best source for geologic maps of Connecticut.

The Connecticut Geological and Natural History Survey
79 Elm St.
Hartford, CT 06109
Telephone: 860-424-3540 fax: 860-424-4058

To order maps published by the USGS contact USGS Information Services (see question 4).

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14. Q. How do I get information on wetlands?

A. Visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetland Inventory home page

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15. Q. How can I get information on flood plains and flood plain maps?

A. For information about floodplain delineation and where to order floodplain maps, go to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) web site. FEMA is the national agency that maps and delineates floodplains.

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16. Q. How do I get data on map projections and other data on how USGS maps are made?

A. See the book "Maps for America" published by the USGS. (See question 4 to order this book).

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17. Q. Where can I get information on benchmarks?

A. Visit the web page at URL: http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/datasheet.prl or telephone the Geodetic Section of the National Mapping Division in Denver at 303-202-4400.

18. Q. Where can I get the water from my local well tested?

A. Look under laboratories in the yellow pages of your local telephone book for water testing services. Prices vary among companies and will depend on the test you request.

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19. Q. Where can I get information on the health effects of radon and other substances in water?

A. Call the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or visit the EPA's Office of groundwater and Drinking Water web site.

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20. Q. Where can I find standards for drinking water in Connecticut?

A. A list of regulated contaminants, their maximum contaminant levels and their health effects for Connecticut residents is available at Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection

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21. Q. Where can I find information on fish consumption advisories?

22. Q. Where in Connecticut are USGS Water-Resources Division Offices located?

A. The Connecticut Water Science Center is located at:

101 Pitkin St.
East Hartford, CT 06108
860-291-6740
Directions