Water Resources of Oklahoma
U.S. Geological Survey Origin
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) was established by an act of Congress
on March 3, 1879 to provide a permanent Federal agency to conduct the systematic
and scientific "classification of the public land, and examination of the
geological structure, mineral resources, and products of national domain."
An integral part of that original mission includes publishing and dissemination
of the earth-science information needed to understand, to plan the use
of, and to manage the Nation's energy, land, mineral, and water resources.
Since 1879, the research and fact-finding role of the USGS has
grown and been modified to meet the changing needs of the Nation it serves.
As part of that evolution, the USGS has become the Federal Government's
largest earth-science research agency, the Nation's largest civilian map-making
agency, the primary source of data on the Nation's surface- and ground-water
resources, and the employer of the largest number of professional earth
scientists. Today's programs serve a diversity of needs and users. Programs
include:
- Conducting detailed assessments of the energy and mineral potential of
the Nation's land and offshore areas.
- Investigating and issuing warning of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions,
landslides, and other geologic and hydrologic hazards.
- Conducting research on the geologic structure of the Nation.
- Studying the geologic features, structure, processes, and history of the
other planets of our solar system.
- Conducting topographic surveys of the Nation and preparing topographic
and thematic maps and related cartographic products.
- Developing and producing digital cartographic data bases and products.
- Collecting data on a routine basis to determine the quantity, quality,
and use of surface and ground water.
- Conducting water-resource appraisals in order to describe the consequences
of alternative plans for developing land and water resources.
- Conducting research in hydraulics and hydrology, and coordinating all Federal
water-data acquisition.
- Using remotely sensed data to develop new cartographic, geologic, and
hydrologic research techniques for natural resources planning and management.
- Providing earth-science information through an extensive publications program
and a network of public access points.
Along with its continuing commitment to meet the growing and changing earth-science
needs of the Nation, the USGS remains dedicated to its original mission
to collect, analyze, interpret, publish, and disseminate information about
the natural resources of the Nation---providing "Earth Science in the Public
Service."
The water resources mission of the U.S. Geological Survey is to provide
the hydrologic information needed by others to help manage the Nation's
water resources. To accomplish its mission, the Survey, in cooperation
with State and local governments and other Federal agencies:
- Collects data on a systematic basis to determine the quantity, quality,
and use of surface and ground water, and the quality of precipitation.
- Conducts water-resources investigations and assessments at national, State,
and local scales, characterizes water-resources conditions, and provides
the capability to predict the impact on the resource of managerial actions,
proposed development plans, and natural phenomena.
- Conducts basic and problem-oriented hydrologic and water-related research
that is likely to produce knowledge useful for the resolution of water-resources
problems facing the State, regions, and Nation.
- Acquires information useful in predicting and delineating water-related
natural hazards from flooding, volcanoes, mudflows, and land subsidence.
- Coordinates the activities of all Federal agencies in the acquisition of
water data, and operates water information centers.
- Disseminates data and the results of investigations through reports, maps,
and other forms of public release.
- Provides scientific and technical assistance in hydrology to other Federal
agencies, to State and local agencies, to licensees of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, and, on behalf of the U.S. Department of State,
to international agencies.
- Administers the provisions of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984,
which include the State Water Resources Research Institute Program (Section
104) and the Water Resources Research Grant Program (Section 105).
http://ok.water.usgs.gov/district/origin_mission.html
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