New Tech A Cost-Saver For Snowmelt-Reliant Utilities

A new technology debuting in Arizona helps cut down the hassle involved with tracking snowmelt, river, and stream flows.

In the past, tracking these variables could be a tedious process. Part of the challenge is that the streams created by snowmelt exist only for a short period before they disappear.

Lee Ester, the water measurement manager for electric and water utility the Salt River Project, has tried many approaches over the years.

"Ester has spent much of his career in search of new ways and technologies that make it easier, less expensive and, of course, better for water managers to track conventional water depth data. But even with the variety of rain gauges and other measuring equipment at his disposal, Ester has never come across a device to track the runoff from snowmelt and rainfall that also offered visual proof of a stream's flow or a snow-measuring station," the Verde Independent reported.

Ester ended up subscribing to the idea that if you want something done, you may have to do it yourself. He invented a technology that makes the task much simpler.

"Taking it into his own hands, Ester developed the SRP Flowtography technology in the spring of 2012. In addition to a catchy name, the technology is essentially a simple, inexpensive way of monitoring stream flow," the report said.

Ester's invention includes time-lapsed image collection as well as customary tools for collecting water depth data.  The technology draws on in-stream visual staff gauges, providing a better overall update on watershed conditions.

"In the science of hydrology and in watershed management, monitoring and measurement, a picture is now worth more than words with Flowtography," Ester said, per the report.

After data is culled by the equipment, it is analyzed back at the office.

"The conventional electronic data is processed for stage accuracy by consulting, comparing and verifying the images collected against the electronic data, which is especially useful in seasonal and flashy ephemeral stream events," the report said.

A big reason for deploying this system: it may save money. Ester explained the cost burden of traditional equipment.

"Conventional water depth data collection methods require expensive equipment and infrastructure to be installed and maintained," he said, per the report. "Hydrologists and technicians carefully plan out the operation of the site, acquire the necessary instrumentation and complete the installation."

"When finished, the site is left to operate on its own with an expectation for accurate data, but accuracy is not always assured and only spot visits are possible to 'calibrate,' or make adjustments, to the data collected once back in the office. With Flowtography, we are collecting 35,000 photos a site per year, and those final images provide a highly needed source of 'secondary' information to ensure that stream events are correctly characterized."

Snowmelt is an important water source in the drought-plagued West.

"The Colorado River is primarily a snowmelt-driven hydrologic system. Roughly 90 percent of the river’s flow is derived from snowmelt from precipitation in three upper basin states, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. However, most of the demand and use of the flows are in the lower basin states, Arizona, California, and Nevada," according to the National Academy of Engineering.

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