The mission of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Water Mission Area is to provide the information and understanding needed for wise management of the Nation's water resources. Inherent in this mission is the responsibility of collecting data that accurately describe the physical, chemical, and biological attributes of water systems. These data are used for environmental and resource assessments by the USGS, other government agencies and scientific organizations, and the general public. Reliable and quality-assured data are essential to the credibility and impartiality of the water-resources appraisals carried out by the USGS. The development and use of guidelines for Measuring Discharge with Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers from a Moving Boat are necessary to achieve consistency in the use of scientific methods and procedures, document the methods and procedures used, and maintain technical expertise in the process. USGS hydrographers and hydrologists can use this manual to ensure that the data collected are of the quality required to fulfill our mission. This 2013 update of Measuring Discharge with Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers from a Moving Boat contains the most current information and guidance regarding acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) used by the USGS at the time of publication. The following memoranda are considered superseded or duplicated by the policy and procedures in this report and need not be referenced in the future: 2012.01-Processing ADCP Discharge Measurements On-site and Performing ADCP Check Measurements 2011.08-Exposure time for ADCP moving-boat discharge measurements made during steady flow conditions 2009.05-Publication of the Techniques and Methods Report Book 3-Section A22 "Measuring Discharge with Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers from a Moving Boat" and associated policy and guidance for moving boat discharge measurements 2009.02-Release of WinRiver II Software (version 2.04) for Computing Streamflow from Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler Data 2006.04-Availability of the report "Application of the Loop Method for Correcting Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler Discharge Measurements Biased by Sediment Transport" by David S. Mueller and Chad R. Wagner (USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5079) and guidance on the application of the Loop Method 2005.05-Guidance on the use of RD Instruments StreamPro Acoustic Doppler Profiler 2005.04-Release of WinRiver Software version 10.06 for Computing Streamflow from Acoustic Profiler Data 2003.04-Release of WinRiver Software version 10.05 for Computing Streamflow from Acoustic Profiler Data iv 2002.03-Release of WinRiver Software (version 10.03) for Computing Streamflow from Acoustic Profiler Data 2002.01-Configuration of Acoustic Profilers (RD Instruments) for Measurement of Streamflow 2002.02-Policy and Technical Guidance on Discharge Measurements using Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers The development of new and improved ADCPs is ongoing, as are the research and practical field experience with existing and new ADCPs, which li...

The U.S. Geological Survey ͑USGS͒ principally has used Price AA and Price pygmy mechanical current meters for measurement of discharge. New technologies have resulted in the introduction of alternatives to the Price meters. One alternative, the FlowTracker acoustic Doppler velocimeter, was designed by SonTek/YSI to make streamflow measurements in wadeable conditions. The device measures a point velocity and can be used with standard midsection method algorithms to compute streamflow. The USGS collected 55 quality-assurance measurements with the FlowTracker at 43 different USGS streamflow-gaging stations across the United States, with mean depths from 0.05 to 0.67 m, mean velocities from 13 to 60 cm/ s, and discharges from 0.02 to 12.4 m 3 / s. These measurements were compared with Price mechanical current meter measurements. Analysis of the comparisons shows that the FlowTracker discharges were not statistically different from the Price meter discharges at a 95% confidence level.

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