Water Resources
Mission of the Water Resources Discipline
The U.S.
Geological Survey has the principal responsibility within the
Federal Government to provide the hydrologic information and
understanding needed by others to achieve the best use and
management of the Nation's water resources. To accomplish this
mission, the Water Resources Discipline, in cooperation with
State, local, and other Federal agencies,
- Systematically collects and analyzes data to evaluate the
quantity, quality, and use of the Nation's water resources
and provides results of these investigations to the public.
- Conducts water-resources appraisals describing the
occurrence, availability, and physical, chemical, and
biological characteristics of surface and ground water.
- Conducts basic and problem-oriented hydrologic and related
research that aids in alleviating water resources problems
and provides an understanding of hydrologic systems
sufficient to predict their response to natural or
human-caused stress.
- Coordinates the activities of
Federal agencies in the acquisition of water resources data
for streams, lakes, reservoirs, estuaries, and ground water.
- Provides scientific and technical assistance in hydrologic
fields to other Federal, State, and local agencies, to
licensees of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and
to international agencies on behalf of the Department of
State.
- Administers the State Water Resources Research
Institutes Program and the National Water Resources Research
Grants Program.
