Stream Gage Installation on Elk River, Jalama Creek, Salinas River, South Fork Trinity River, and White River Bridges

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is proceeding with the installation of five stream gage systems on bridges spanning the Elk River, Jalama Creek, Salinas River, South Fork Trinity River, and White River, with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) responsible for installation and DWR assuming long-term operation and maintenance. Each system includes a stage sensor, antenna, solar panel, battery, cables, wire-weight reference gauge, and NEMA enclosure, all mounted to the bridge via existing guardrails or deck bolting, while a water temperature sensor is placed streamside and connected via steel conduit to the main unit. The work will occur at five designated bridge sites across Humboldt, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Trinity, and Tulare counties, with minimal ground disturbance limited to small concrete pads and shallow trenching for conduit burial. The project is exempt from full environmental review under California’s CEQA, relying on categorical exemptions 15304 and 15306, which classify the installation as a minor alteration with negligible environmental impact. The contract is not bound by Federal Acquisition Regulation clauses, and no standard contract type, pricing, or delivery schedule is specified, nor are there formal inspection criteria, quality standards, or evaluation factors documented. Payment and invoicing procedures are not detailed, nor are any contract types, corporate certifications, or socioeconomic designations provided. The primary point of contact is Amy Lyons, Senior Environmental Scientist at DWR, who serves as the lead for coordination and oversight. All equipment is designed for continuous, unattended operation with solar and battery power, delivering real-time hydrologic and temperature data for scientific and water resource management purposes.