Lakes · 3 min read
How to read a reservoir’s percent full
Storage and elevation answer different questions. Use both to understand a reservoir.
Read the guideTHE PUBLIC ATLAS JOURNALLook closer.
Look closer.
Make sense of more.
Stories behind the readings. Field guides for everyday questions. Useful things to take with you.
SEPTEMBER 2026
ORIGINAL RESEARCH · DATED SOURCE RECORDSThree lakes.
Three lakes.
A month of change.
A dated look at available September lake readings, plus the coverage and limits of seven NOAA tide references.
Published 2026-09-28 · Partial September observations; upcoming tide predictions. Human editorial review pending.
Open the notebook →THE QUESTION BEHIND THE NUMBER
A little context goes a long way.
Source-linked explanations across water, home, work and weather. Review status is shown on each guide.
21 field guides
Lakes · 3 min read
Lake Travis: put today’s reading in context
Follow a dated TWDB reading from the headline number to its 30-day chart.
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Tides · 5 min read
How to read a NOAA high and low tide chart
A station, a time zone and a datum make the table meaningful.
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Tides · 5 min read
Why a nearby tide station can differ from your beach
Follow the water connection and station coverage before trusting a nearby name.
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Rivers · 5 min read
Gauge height, discharge and flood stage
Three different quantities that should never be read as interchangeable.
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Rivers · 5 min read
Which Susquehanna gauge should you use?
Begin with your river reach and confirm the station on the source map.
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Radon · 3 min read
EPA radon zones versus a home test
A county-level potential category cannot measure the air inside a home.
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Radon · 3 min read
Why a ZIP-area search can return multiple counties
The lookup uses Census geography, with boundaries and relationships that need explanation.
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GS pay · 3 min read
Base pay versus locality pay in 2026
Choose the correct table before comparing grade and step.
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GS pay · 3 min read
A worked GS grade-and-step lookup
Trace a calculator result to the exact OPM row and column.
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Burn bans · 3 min read
How to verify a Texas county burn ban
Use the map to find the county, then read the current issuing authority’s information.
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Burn bans · 3 min read
Wildfire danger versus a legal burn ban
Weather conditions and legal restrictions answer different questions.
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Hail · 5 min read
SPC preliminary reports versus NCEI event records
Choose the dataset that matches the time window and the question.
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Hail · 5 min read
What a hail record can tell you about a property
A nearby reported event is context, not proof of damage at an address.
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Tides · 4 min read
Spring vs neap tides: the difference and how to read your chart
Understand larger and smaller tidal ranges, compare a worked tide-table example, and choose a local NOAA station before planning a visit.
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Electricity · 4 min read
How to calculate electricity cost from watts and hours
Calculate daily and monthly appliance costs, avoid the cents-versus-dollars error, and compare your own tariff with dated EIA state averages.
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Rivers · 6 min read
Why a USGS river reading can change after you save it
A provisional observation is useful information with a review still ahead. Learn what can change, how to cite a reading and what a gap does—and does not—mean.
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Tides · 5 min read
Predicted tide versus observed water: what to check before you go
A tide table estimates the astronomical tide. The water you meet at the shore can be different. Here is how to read the two without confusing either for a safety guarantee.
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Flood maps · 5 min read
Effective or preliminary flood map? How to check the version
Two maps of the same community can show different information because they serve different points in an update process. Learn which records to locate and which questions to take to local officials.
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Radon · 5 min read
When should you test for radon again? A practical home checklist
A past low result is useful, but changes to a home or how it is used can make a new test worth discussing. Use this checklist to find the right next question.
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Electricity · 5 min read
Your electricity bill versus a state average: why the numbers differ
A state average is useful context, but it is not your tariff. Separate usage, variable rates and fixed charges before comparing an estimate with a real bill.
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THE RESOURCE SHELFMore than
More than
a good read.
Take a tide worksheet with you, check a source, or download the evidence behind a research note.
Find a useful resource →KEEP YOUR PLACE
Come back to what matters.
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