U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Dr. Robert M. Hirsch Associate Director for Water April 16, 2007 USGS: Water Resources Program

Water Resources Mission To provide reliable, impartial, timely information that is needed to understand the Nation’s water resources. WRD actively promotes the use of this information by decision makers to – Minimize the loss of life and property as a result of water-related natural hazards, such as floods, droughts, and land movement.

Water Resources Mission Effectively manage ground-water and surface-water resources for domestic, agricultural, commercial, industrial, recreational, and ecological uses. Protect and enhance water resources for human health, aquatic health, and environmental quality. generations.

Water Resources Mission Contribute to wise physical and economic development of the Nation’s resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

Who we are A workforce of about 3400 people Diverse technical capabilities Located in all 50 states at a total of 179 locations

What we do Interact with 1,400 State and local agency cooperators Conduct data collection, interpretive studies, and research Topics studied include quantity and quality of water Includes both surface water and ground water

Water Resources Investigations $461M in FY 2006 Federal Share, State Water Institutes, $6M Federal Program, $142M State & Local Agencies, $155M Other Federal Agencies $95M Federal Share, Coop Program, $63M Direct Appropriations, $211M Reimbursable Funds, $242M

U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey EXPLANATION Regional Office Water Science Center Water Science Center at city Field Office Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility National Water-Quality Laboratory Branch of Regional Research Office USGS National Training Center WRD Regional Boundary U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Discipline Offices

USGS NWISWeb Database 849Real-time ground water 665,000Peak discharges (floods) 69.6 millionWater quality analyses 4.4 millionWater quality samples 7.8 millionGround-water levels millionDaily values 9,915Real-time sites 1.5 millionTotal monitoring sites August 1, 2006

USGS NWISWeb Daily Values August 1, millionWater Levels in Wells 21.0 millionOther 5.0 millionSpecific Conductance 11.3 millionTemperatures 1.5 millionpH 26.6 million Stage million Discharge

Web access to USGS hydrologic data History of monthly requests for data successfully fulfilled, in millions

USGS Cooperative Water Program Working with state and local governments to address water issues of national concern since 1895, now 1400 agencies Data collection and focused hydrologic investigations that meet local and regional water information needs Shared costs

Technical Program Streamgages 4,700 Water quality stations 2,500 Ground water levels10,700 Ground water quality 2,600 Hydrologic Investigations 750

Hydrologic Investigations Water Availability – GW Modeling Salt Water Intrusion Aquifer Storage and Recovery Flood Frequency Analyses Land Use Effects – Watershed Modeling Contaminant Distribution and Transport Eutrophication – Lakes and Estuaries Drinking Water Quality

Program Strengths Shared cost and shared benefits Built-in relevance – Cooperator interaction Information universally available – accepted as impartial by all parties

Program Strengths Builds and tests new tools – technology transfer National standards – builds the USGS National data base Provides basis for national and regional synthesis