VERNON, Ind. (AP) _ A southern Indiana stream gauge used for research and to alert communities about impending flooding will be shut down because of federal budget cuts.
 
  The Republic in Columbus reports the U.S. Geological Survey plans to shut down the gauge on the Muscatatuck River south of Vernon by the end of the month.
 
  Bill Guertal of the Indiana and Kentucky Water Science Center in Indianapolis says the gauge costs about $13,500 annually to run. The budget cuts are trimming about $14,000 from Indiana’s portion of the geological survey’s National Streamflow Information Program. 
 
  Up to 375 gauges nationwide could be shut down. The Muscatatuck gauge is the only Indiana site affected.
 
  Guertal says the closing could be avoided if funding is restored or an outside group picks up the cost.