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River Stage Sensor in Iowa City

Stream Stage Sensor Pilot Project with Iowa DNR

Iowa’s severe flooding in 2008 demonstrated the need for more extensive monitoring of the state’s rivers and streams in real time. To address this, Iowa Flood Center (IFC) students developed a new inexpensive automated sensor that measures stream water height (stage) and transmits data automatically and frequently to a central location (see River Stage Sensors).

In 2010, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) contracted with the IFC to build and deploy 50 of these new sensors in streams and rivers across the state. The DNR selected locations for the sensors and coordinated with local communities; IFC staff and students built and deployed the sensors and developed the database and a web-based map interface for accessing real-time information from the sensors.

Interior components of a stream stage sensor. A solar panel is mounted on the exterior surface.

IFC researchers completed the project in late 2010 after several months of work. The web-based map interface for accessing real-time information from the sensors may be accessed on the Iowa Flood Center website (See Maps: IFC Bridge Stage Gauge Network).

In 2011, the Iowa DNR again contracted with the Iowa Flood Center to build and deploy another 50 stream sensors over waterways across the state. The Iowa Flood Center now supports and maintains 100 sensors across the state. Real-time data from the new sensors can be viewed on the Iowa Flood Information System (IFIS).