@pondlog/mcp-usgs

@pondlog/mcp-usgs

MCP server for USGS Water Services (NWIS). Four tools for real-time and historic streamflow data, plus site search and metadata. No API key required.

Part of pondlog.

Install / run

npx -y @pondlog/mcp-usgs

Configure

Claude Desktop

Edit ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "pondlog-usgs": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@pondlog/mcp-usgs"]
    }
  }
}

Cursor

Edit ~/.cursor/mcp.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "pondlog-usgs": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@pondlog/mcp-usgs"]
    }
  }
}

MCP Inspector (debug)

npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector npx -y @pondlog/mcp-usgs

Tools

Tool	What it does
get_instantaneous_values	Real-time discharge / gage height (default) over a relative period (PT2H, P1D, etc.) for one or more USGS sites.
get_daily_values	Daily statistics, either a relative window or explicit start/end dates. Use this for any historic query.
get_site_info	Single-site metadata: name, coordinates, HUC, state, county, altitude.
search_sites	Find active stream-gauge sites by lat/lng/radius_km or by US state.

Parameter codes

Common USGS codes: 00060 = streamflow / discharge (ft³/s); 00065 = gage height (ft); 00010 = water temperature (°C). Full list: https://help.waterdata.usgs.gov/codes-and-parameters/parameters.

Example prompts

• "What's the Elwha River doing right now? (USGS site 12045500)"
• "Find USGS gauges within 25 km of Port Angeles, WA, and show today's flow."
• "Pull daily mean streamflow for the Dungeness River from January 2024."

License

MIT.