The Cooperative Water Program

As the primary Federal science agency for water-resource information, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) monitors the quantity and quality of water in the Nation's rivers and aquifers, assesses the sources and fate of contaminants in aquatic systems, develops tools to improve the application of hydrologic information, and ensures that its information and tools are available to all potential users. This broad, diverse mission cannot be accomplished effectively without the contributions of the Cooperative Water Program. For more than 100 years, the Cooperative Program has been a highly successful cost-sharing partnership between the USGS and water-resource agencies at the State, local, and tribal levels. Throughout its history, the Program has made important contributions to meeting USGS mission requirements, developing meaningful partnerships, sharing Federal and non-Federal financial resources, and keeping the agency focused on real-world problems.

Program Mission

The Mission of the USGS Cooperative Water Program is to provide reliable, impartial, and timely information needed to understand the Nation's water resources through a program of shared efforts and funding with State, Tribal, and local partners to enable decision makers to wisely manage the Nation's water resources.