In advance of what is anticipated to be the wettest fall and winter in the last decade, the county this week recommitted to its agreement to fund two-thirds of the cost of the United States Geological Survey’s operation of surface water gauging stations at key points along three crucial waterways in the county.
Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Flood Control District, the board approved a joint funding agreement with the United States Geological Survey related to the operation and maintenance of three surface water gauging stations located at Caruthers Creek near Ivanpah, the West Fork Mojave River near Hesperia and Santa Ana River in San Bernardino from November 1, 2015 to October 31, 2016.
According to Gerry Newcombe, who serves as the director of the county flood control district, “Based on the agreement, the district will continue to partially fund the operation and maintenance of three surface water gauging stations from November 1, 2015 to October 31, 2016 located at:(1) Caruthers Creek near Ivanpah; (2) West Fork Mojave River near Hesperia; and (3) Santa Ana River in San Bernardino. The data gathered by the stream flow gauging stations is beneficial to both the district and the USGS in developing hydrology models. These models enable engineers to plan and design flood control facilities that better protect existing and new development. This data is also used during emergency storm operations for evaluating the threat of flooding.
After four years of an unrelenting drought in California, weather prognosticators are predicting an El Niño weather system will soak much of Southern California with torrents of rain by the end of the year.