Volunteer Banquet - March 30, 2008

Pete Boulay was the main presenter at

1st Annual Banquet.  Pete

works for the State Climatology Office.

 2007 RAIN GAUGE PROGRAM

The Martin SWCD is involved in the Statewide Rain Gauge Precipitation Monitoring network where we provide observers with precipitation forms and rain gauges. The SWCD gathers the completed forms and forwards them once a month to the State Climatology Office (SCO). Observers are assigned a unique identifier based on their name, township, range and section number.

The data entry process has changed significantly over time. In 1973, precipitation data were entered using punch cards. In the late 1970’s, data were entered on a mainframe computer using a FORTRAN program.   In May 2001, an on-line data entry system was launched which allows cooperating agencies to enter their data via a Web browser. The data obtained from this program is used by a variety of public and private institutions, agencies, and private individuals. Water sensitive agencies use the data extensively. Specialized publications unique to Minnesota were crafted using this data set. Many in a series of publications titled Climate of Minnesota were developed using the data. Another publication using the data is Sixteen Year Study of Flash Floods by Kuehnast, Baker and Zandlo.

The success of this program hinges on interest in data gathering on the local, regional and state level. The success story begins with a SCO that is interested in gathering high spatial density precipitation data. The SCO identifies regional, mainly county-level, water-sensitive agencies such as SWCD offices that have need for the data on a local level. These county-level offices are able to recruit local individuals that are genuinely interested in the weather. In Minnesota, that’s a lot of people!

One of the keys to the longevity of the program is that the people reading their gauges each morning have interest in the data. Having people interested in the quality of the data is crucial. Quality control of the data is done on two levels, at the regional level with the local agency and the state level mainly through the annual quality control project. Equally as crucial is annual feedback to each person recording data. This reassures the precipitation observer that their data are used, wanted and that they are contributing to a bigger picture. The SCO has sent an annual report to each observer since 1970.

Martin SWCD has some very dedicated volunteers, and without their help the program would not be possible.  All of our volunteers do a tremendous job and we thank them for their important public service!  Anyone interested in becoming an EarthTeam Volunteer please contact our office for more information.    The State Climatology office also maintains a web site that has information on present weather conditions, rainfall and snow depth maps, drought monitors, historical data and other information on our weather:  www.climate.umn.edu.

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