12/04/2025: The get_continuous() function was added to the waterdata module, which provides access to measurements collected via automated sensors at a high frequency (often 15 minute intervals) at a monitoring location. This is an early version of the continuous endpoint and should be used with caution as the API team improves its performance. In the future, we anticipate the addition of an endpoint(s) specifically for handling large data requests, so it may make sense for power users to hold off on heavy development using the new continuous endpoint.
11/24/2025: dataretrieval is pleased to offer a new module, waterdata, which gives users access USGS's modernized Water Data APIs. The Water Data API endpoints include daily values, instantaneous values, field measurements (modernized groundwater levels service), time series metadata, and discrete water quality data from the Samples database. Though there will be a period of overlap, the functions within waterdata will eventually replace the nwis module, which currently provides access to the legacy NWIS Water Services. More example workflows and functions coming soon. Check help(waterdata) for more information.
09/03/2024: The groundwater levels service has switched endpoints, and dataretrieval was updated accordingly in v1.0.10. Older versions using the discontinued endpoint will return 503 errors for nwis.get_gwlevels or the service='gwlevels' argument. Visit Water Data For the Nation for more information.
03/01/2024: USGS data availability and format have changed on Water Quality Portal (WQP). Since March 2024, data obtained from WQP legacy profiles will not include new USGS data or recent updates to existing data. All USGS data (up to and beyond March 2024) are available using the new WQP beta services. You can access the beta services by setting legacy=False in the functions in the wqp module.
To view the status of changes in data availability and code functionality, visit: https://doi-usgs.github.io/dataRetrieval/articles/Status.html