CSV Format Description

CSV file format stores data in plain-text form, separated by commas

Station Number

The unique 7-character station identification, in the format ddaaddd, where

• dd: 2 digits for the major drainage basin
• aa: 1 alphabetic character each for the sub-basin and sub-sub-basin
• ddd: 3 digits for the specific station within the sub-sub-basin

Station Name

The official name for station identification

Province

The provincial, territorial or state code in which the station is published

• AB: Alberta
• BC: British Columbia
• MB: Manitoba
• NB: New Brunswick
• NL: Newfoundland and Labrador
• NS: Nova Scotia
• NT: Northwest Territories
• NU: Nunavut
• ON: Ontario
• QC: Quebec
• MB: Manitoba
• SK: Saskatchewan
• YT: Yukon Territory

Status

Flag to indicate the status of a hydrometric data collection program at a station

• A: indicates an active station
• D: indicates a discontinued station

Latitude/Longitude

Positions are presented in decimal degrees with latitudes north of the equator represented as positive values and longitudes east of the Prime Meridian represented as positive values

Year From/Year To

Period of record, in the format yyyy

Gross Drainage Area

The total surface area that drains to the gauge site, in km²

Effective Drainage Area

The portion of the drainage basin that contributes runoff to the gauge site, calculated by subtracting any non-contributing portion from the gross drainage area, in km²

Regulation

A flag indicating whether the flow is regulated or not

• N: Natural
• R: Regulated

Data Type

Identification of the data type: Flow, Level, or Flow and Level

Operation Schedule

The schedule of station operation for data collection

Sediment

Flag to indicate the status of a sediment data collection program at a station

• Y: indicates that sediment data is available
• N: indicates that sediment data is not available

RHBN

Flag to indicate a Reference Hydrometric Basin Network station

• Y: indicates that the station is a RHBN station
• N: indicates that the station is not a RHBN station

Real Time

Flag to indicate if a station has the capacity to deliver data in real-time or near real-time

• Y: indicates that data is available
• N: indicates that data is not available

Datum Name

The name of the datum that water levels are referred to

Publishing Office

The WSC office which is responsible for publishing the data for a station

Operating Agency

The agency that operates a station

Contributed

Flag to indicate if a station’s data are contributed by an operating agency which is not Water Survey of Canada

• Y: indicates that data is provided by a third party operating agency
• N: indicates that data is provided by Water Survey of Canada