gauges and to predict flood events many commercial enterprises exist that provide high resolution digital maps wherefrom this data is utilized for plotting the stream gauges 101 and for making accurate flood predictions the predictions include possible breach locations and the resulting extent of flooding the local area those areas that are highly populated or have commercial interests are monitored to mobilize countermeasures beforehand and to warn the local population those areas of lower concern are also mapped but may not require active control of the flooding this decision can only be made based on accurate maps and data points along the waterway discrepancies between different maps can be interrogated and resolved with on site measurements or surveying while the stream gage locations can likewise be verified over time to ensure their position is accurate in combination with knowledge of the terrain and the physical condition of the waterway changes in the waterway are predicted using meteorological weather data 102 weather patterns are monitored in real time as are the waterways wherein storm system predictions can be entered into calculations to predict any surge in waterway depth or flow rate this predicted change in condition of the water way is used to create a full model of the waterway during the storm event points of interest include those areas that may succumb to a breach wherein the water level rises above the banks of the waterway and results in local flooding predictive models allow administrators the ability to create a plan to divert the waterway or barricade a region against the anticipated flood the various agencies drawn upon for the waterway 101 and weather 102 data include the u s army corps of engineers usage the environmental protection agency epa the u s.