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Daily water observations

usgs:water-daily · Released · Included since usdata 0.5.

Streamflow and Water Daily Values.

At a glance

  • Files: CSV
  • Selection: Site observations for inclusive local calendar dates; parameter and statistic filters
  • Required inputs: Both dates; site IDs or a geographic query
  • Open locally: usdata[pandas] · Reader guide
  • Examples: weather and streamflow

Usage and limitations

usgs:water-daily uses the modern Water Data OGC API, at https://api.waterdata.usgs.gov/ogcapi/v0/collections/daily/items. The legacy WaterServices homepage announces decommissioning in early 2027 (checked 2026-09-05), so new access targets the modern API.

  • Select sites with -p sites=07164500 or USGS-07164500; comma-separated IDs and SDK lists are supported. A location, bbox, or point can select sites geographically instead. When both site IDs and a bbox are provided, both apply.
  • --vars 00060 selects streamflow. Variables are five-digit parameter codes; quote codes in YAML to preserve leading zeros. Omitting variables requests all available parameters for the selected sites and dates.
  • -p statistic_id=00003 selects daily means (the default). Other five-digit statistic codes can select minima or maxima. Start and end are inclusive local calendar dates; times of day are ignored for daily values.
  • JSON pages resolve the query; each asset downloads the corresponding raw CSV. CSV retains coordinates, units, approval status, qualifiers, and modification timestamps, while excluding the volatile GeoJSON response timeStamp.
  • Live checks on 2026-09-05 found that sortby is rejected beyond the first page. Cursor links can also fall back to offset=1 at the end, repeating a record. The adapter therefore uses absolute offsets advanced by the number of returned observations, retaining all original filters. Requests use 10,000 rows per page; the integration test forces one row per page.
  • Access was verified without credentials. API keys raise rate limits but are not required for the supported small queries. API key configuration is not exposed by this adapter.
  • The service homepage identifies its data as US Government work in the public domain.

Reproducibility pins the CSV bytes. If observations or page membership change upstream, restoration detects a checksum mismatch; the service does not offer immutable versions through these requests.

Small probe used to verify the endpoint and filtering:

curl --get 'https://api.waterdata.usgs.gov/ogcapi/v0/collections/daily/items' \
  --data-urlencode 'f=csv' --data-urlencode 'monitoring_location_id=USGS-07164500' \
  --data-urlencode 'parameter_code=00060' --data-urlencode 'statistic_id=00003' \
  --data-urlencode 'time=2024-05-06/2024-05-07' --data-urlencode 'limit=1' \
  --data-urlencode 'offset=0'

USGS access notes.

Catalog reference.

Catalog reference

  • Availability: since 0.5
  • Domain: Water resources
  • Coverage: not specified in the catalog
  • Coverage varies by station, product, and date; the range above does not guarantee observations.
  • Upstream documentation
  • License: US Government Work (public domain)
  • Transport: http
  • Adapter: usdata.providers.usgs.daily:WaterDaily

All USGS datasets.