The Bureau of Reclamation’s mission depends on data: from weather to river flows, from canal to reservoir operations. The Reclamation Water Information System consolidates and publishes water and related data from throughout Reclamation, making it easier to locate and access. RWIS, launched as a pilot in April 2017, is a web portal that makes Reclamation’s water-related daily time series data available in human and machine-readable open formats.
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Friant Dam with canal that delivers project water.

May 4, 2018

The Bureau of Reclamation’s mission depends on data: from weather to river flows, from canal to reservoir operations. The Reclamation Water Information System consolidates and publishes water and related data from throughout Reclamation, making it easier to locate and access. RWIS, launched as a pilot in April 2017, is a web portal that makes Reclamation’s water-related daily time series data available in human and machine-readable open formats at https://water.usbr.gov.

RWIS allows users to browse available data through an interactive map or search for data through a text-based query. Once the data query is complete, the user can utilize the data in a method that meets their needs, whether it is downloaded in a standardized format or a graphical or tabular display. Now you can bookmark a query and copy the URL for a query to make it easier to put into your own apps and websites. RWIS is designed to meet modern data standards allowing for anyone to view, access and download Reclamation's water data.

Data in the pilot system enables users to track past and present streamflows, reservoir water releases, canal flows and other types of water data. In the year since it was launched, the RWIS team has updated the system to include data for the full period of record for sites wherever possible, improved the web service, which allows data retrieval to be automated for use in models and applications; and developed a visualization demonstration feature that shows teacup diagrams for reservoirs; as an example of using RWIS data.

The RWIS pilot was the first step toward a sustainable open data platform within Reclamation. The Reclamation Information Sharing Environment Project is a multi-disciplinary, multi-office effort to create a system for sharing even more of Reclamation’s data. Currently, only time-series data is shared, but RISE will aggregate, store, manage and publish a variety of data in different formats.

RISE will evolve from and absorb the existing RWIS pilot system to become a mature, sustainable application. RISE will do the following:

  • Expand data offerings to include the following:
    • A broader range of water data, as well as environmental data (e.g., biological and water quality data), hydropower data, and infrastructure/assets data (e.g., facilities and lands).
    • Additional time steps for time series data (e.g., hourly, 15-minute, monthly, annual) as well as geospatial data and binary data (e.g., documents, multimedia and file archives)
  • Support data access and use for internal and external users, including Reclamation staff, partners from federal, state, and local agencies, stakeholders such as water and power users, researchers, media outlets, and the general public
  • Standardize and centralize Reclamation’s data publication to provide access to Reclamation’s mission-related data in a single portal in common, machine-readable formats
  • Comply with open data policies and coordinate with other data management efforts.

We’d like to know what you think; what data would be useful for your operations?

The RISE Project is funded through two Science & Technology Program research projects: the RWIS Enhancement (S&T Project 1627) to improve the features and functionality of the pilot system and add additional water data and RISE (S&T Project 7127) to expand to include more Reclamation datasets in the environmental, hydropower and infrastructure/assets domains.

For more information, please visit https://water.usbr.gov. This site features RWIS’ query and map tools, fact sheets, release notes and a help file. To submit your thoughts, please email rwis@usbr.gov.

Recent News

Glen Canyon Dam.
The Department of the Interior will conduct the first experimental flow at Glen Canyon Dam since implementing its Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan (LTEMP) in 2016. The goal is to provide enhanced habitat for the lifecycle of aquatic insects that are the primary food source for fish in the Colorado River. Learn More →

Teton Dam Site
The Bureau of Reclamation is taking steps to address public safety and trespass concerns for the structural remains from Teton Dam. The Teton Dam site is located on the Teton River in Fremont County, three miles northeast of Newdale, Idaho. The dam site has been inoperative since June 5, 1976. Learn More →

Owhyee Dam in Oregon.
National Dam Safety Awareness Day commemorates the failure of the South Fork Dam in Johnstown, Pennsylvania on May 31, 1889, which resulted in the loss of over 2,200 lives. National Dam Safety Awareness Day occurs annually on May 31 to encourage the public to learn about the benefits and risks associated with dams. Learn More →

Terry Fulp with Commissioner Burman.
The Bureau of Reclamation’s Lower Colorado Regional Director, Terrance J. Fulp, Ph.D., received the Meritorious Service Award from the Department of the Interior this week. Fulp has devoted his 27-year federal career to the Lower Colorado Region by making lasting contributions to improving operations and developing solutions for complicated water issues. Learn More →

Reclamation's Folsom South Canal trail head near Nimbus Dam
The Bureau of Reclamation is improving a bike trail along the Folsom South Canal, a 14-mile canal and roadway from near Nimbus Dam to Sloughhouse Road just outside of Rancho Cordova, California. It now has added signage and lane stripping, hazards were removed from the roadway edges, and one-half of the trail resurfaced. The FSC Bike Trail Safety Improvement Project is expected to be completed in 2019 and includes the following additional upgrades. Learn More →

Front-end loaders moving dirt.
The Bureau of Reclamation awarded a contract to Wheeler Machinery Company of Salt Lake City, UT. Under the terms of the contract, Wheeler will supply Reclamation’s Force Account with a variety of heavy construction equipment of the type typically used for large-scale construction projects. Learn More →

Water Treatment

A video describing the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel Water Treatment Pilot

Since 1992, water treatment technologies have evolved, and new treatment technologies may provide a better alternative than the current treatment process provides. During the Spring of 2018, Reclamation will study new processes for treating water from the tunnel to determine whether new technologies or combinations of processes might offer increased efficiency and optimization to treat the tunnel water in the future. In addition, Reclamation will be investigating the potential of adding a plug in the mine drainage tunnel just below the pump installed by EPA in 2008. This investigation will occur during the summer and fall of 2018.

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