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Follow the water.

Reservoir readings, coastal predictions and river gauges—with the station, date and context attached.

Find your station or reservoir

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Field guides from this desk

Teal water in a clear vessel beside a terracotta vessel and cobalt object.
Lakes · 3 min read

How to read a reservoir’s percent full

Storage and elevation answer different questions. Use both to understand a reservoir.

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An open field notebook and brass survey level on a limestone ledge beside water.
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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A folded blue paper wave beside a brass clock and coral cord.
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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A weathered wooden pier beside a sheltered rocky coastal inlet.
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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River water flowing around mossy stones beside a grassy bank.
Rivers · 5 min read

Gauge height, discharge and flood stage

Three different quantities that should never be read as interchangeable.

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Brass field instruments, open notebooks and a winding paper ribbon on a blue table.
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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