Policy and Procedures for the Management and Archival Storage of Data Collected for Hydrologic Investigations, U.S. Geological Survey, Indiana District
Open-File Report 94-61

This report describes the policy and procedures used by the Indiana District to manage and store data collected during hydrologic investigations. It is the policy of the Indiana District that data collected to meet the objectives of projects for hydrologic investigations be documented, organized, and archived in a manner that (1) facilitates retrieval, evaluation, and use by District personnel and others; and (2) enables verification of data contained in all reports and computer data bases. Procedures for the management of project data for hydrologic investigations are the following: 

1. Data-collection sites are properly established, named, and plotted on Master Site-File topographic maps. 

2. Complete and clear field notes are taken during each site visit. 

3. A complete and well-organized paper file for each data-collection site is maintained.

 4. Pertinent data are stored in the appropriate National Water Information System data base. 

5. Data are compared and verified in field notes, laboratory sheets, data bases, and all reports; all discrepancies are resolved and noted in the paper files and in archived copies of all reports. 

6. At the end of the project, paper files for each data-collection site and important project files are archived in the District library.