The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) stream-gauging program provides streamflow data for a variety of purposes that range from current needs, such as flood forecasting, to future or long-term needs, such as detection of changes in streamflow due to human activities or global warming. Data from realtime streamflow gages are relayed to the West Virginia District's office through the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) data-collection system. Data are transmitted from each station at intervals of 4 hours and are loaded into the West Virginia District's National Water Information System (NWIS). GIS coverage created data downloaded from the USGS Water Resources web site in December 2000.