1. A USGS Water Science Strategy
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey

2. Facing Tomorrow’s Challenges —
Evolving from an organization that was created to inventory the Nation’s public lands and natural resources, the mission of the 21st century USGS is most simply expressed in its maxim “Science for a Changing World.”
Facing Tomorrow’s Challenges —
U.S. Geological Survey Science in the Decade 2007–2017
Circular 1309
(Animated slide)

3. Science Strategy and Realignment
Aligned leadership and science staff with the 7 science directions
Climate and Land Use Change;
Ecosystems;
Natural Hazards;
Water;
Core Science Systems;
Energy and Minerals;
Environmental Heath
Open and transparent planning process that includes scientists and managers, stakeholders
Strategic Science Planning Teams appointed for each of the 7 science directions
Draft science plan will be made available for public comment

4. Water Science Strategic Planning Team (SSPT)
Charged with developing a science strategy for USGS water activities and supporting programs
Consists of senior scientists and managers from all USGS major science disciplines
Builds on USGS core strengths that support interdisciplinary science
Co-Chairs: Eric Evenson (609) Randall Orndorff (703)

5. Water Science Strategic Planning Team (SSPT)
Name
Position
Duty Station
Eric J Evenson
Coordinator, National Water Census
Trenton, NJ
Randall C Orndorff
Director, Eastern Geology and Paleoclimate Science Center
Reston, VA
Charles Blome
Geology and Environmental Change Science Team, Denver, CO
Denver, CO
John Karl Böhlke
National Research Program - Water – Eastern Region
Paul Hershberger
Field Station Leader/Research Fisheries Biologist
Marrowstone Marine Field Station, Nordland, WA
Victoria Langenheim
Geology and Geophysics Science Center – Menlo Park, CA
Menlo Park, CA
Gregory McCabe
National Research Program - Water – Central Region
Scott Morlock
Data Section Chief – Indiana Water Science Center
Indianapolis, IN
Howard Reeves
Research Hydrologist – Michigan Water Science Center
East Lansing, MI
James Verdin
Member – NIDIS Team – EROS Data Center, Sioux Falls, SD
Boulder, CO
Holly Sarvis Weyers
Director – North Carolina Water Science Center
Raleigh, NC
Tamara M. Wood
Hydrologist, Oregon Water Science Center
Portland, OR

6. Integration of science activities will be a major theme.
Global
Change
Core Science
Natural
Hazards
Energy and
Minerals
Data Integration; decision-support systems; data management; product delivery
Changes in precipitation, ET, flow, temperature, timing characteristics, etc.
Water needs for energy development and energy production; energy needs for producing water
Floods, debris flows, high flow hydrologic techniques etc.
Environmental
Health
Ecosystems
Water quality and flow
impacts to environ. Health and human health
Water quality and flow
needs for ecosystems
Water
Integration of science activities will be a major theme.
Here are some examples of cross-cutting issues.

7. Key Questions
Broadly, what areas of science will be needed to address Water Availability issues of the future?
What specific areas of Water-related research should USGS advance in the next 5-10 years?
What types of Water-related products should USGS aim to produce in the next 5-10 years?
What does Water need from other Missions? And...What does Water have to offer to other Missions?

8. Send Additional Comments