Elevated geogenic contaminants common in drinking water aquifers across the U.S.
The U.S. is producing more food - without increasing nutrient pollution
National Water Availability data available now through the Data Companion
Explore, download, and use new datasets related to integrated water availability, supply and use.
Explore, download, and use new datasets related to integrated water availability, supply and use.
USGS releases a comprehensive look at water resources in the United States
New National Water Availability Assessment offers critical insights into water supply, demand, and quality across the Nation.
New National Water Availability Assessment offers critical insights into water supply, demand, and quality across the Nation.
Water Resources Mission Area
Water information is fundamental to national and local economic well-being, protection of life and property, and effective management of the Nation’s water resources. The USGS works with partners to monitor, assess, conduct targeted research, and deliver information on a wide range of water resources and conditions including streamflow, groundwater, water quality, and water use and availability.
Message from the Associate Director
Message from the Associate Director
Learn more about the Mission Area from the Associate Director for Water Resources.
Water Data for the Nation
Water Data for the Nation
Water data collected at approximately 1.9 million sites across all 50 states.
News
New User’s Guide to Updated Hydrographic Framework
New User’s Guide to Updated Hydrographic Framework
Elevated geogenic contaminants common in drinking water aquifers across the U.S.
Elevated geogenic contaminants common in drinking water aquifers across the U.S.
2025 in Review: The Saline Lake Ecosystems Integrated Water Availability Assessment
2025 in Review: The Saline Lake Ecosystems Integrated Water Availability Assessment
Publications
Treatability study to evaluate bioremediation of trichloroethene at Site K, former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant, Arden Hills, Minnesota, 2020–22 Treatability study to evaluate bioremediation of trichloroethene at Site K, former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant, Arden Hills, Minnesota, 2020–22
Executive Summary Chlorinated solvents, including trichloroethene (TCE) and other chlorinated volatile organic compounds (cVOCs), are widespread contaminants that can be treated by bioremediation approaches that enhance anaerobic reductive dechlorination. Reductive dechlorination can be enhanced either through the addition of an electron donor (biostimulation) or the addition of a known
Characterizing operational signatures of reservoirs with the SWOT satellite by comparing natural lake and reservoir dynamics Characterizing operational signatures of reservoirs with the SWOT satellite by comparing natural lake and reservoir dynamics
Due to a lack of management operations data, hydrological models may represent reservoirs as natural lakes, leading to poor discharge predictions in regulated basins. To parse seasonal operational signatures, we compare the dynamics of natural lake and reservoir systems across North America using Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite observations and derived discharge...
Compilation of a nationwide river image dataset for identifying river channels and river rapids via deep learning Compilation of a nationwide river image dataset for identifying river channels and river rapids via deep learning
Remote sensing enables large-scale, image-based assessments of river dynamics, offering new opportunities for hydrological monitoring. We present a publicly available dataset consisting of 281,024 satellite and aerial images of U.S. rivers, constructed using an Application Programming Interface (API) and the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Hydrography Dataset. The dataset includes...
Science
US Geological Survey/Environment and Climate Change Canada International Gauging Stations
For more than a century, Canada and the United States have maintained a system of monitoring streamflow and water levels for shared waters. Today, the USGS and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) maintain a network of International Gauging Stations and International Support Gauging Stations that are determined to be mutually beneficial to both agencies.
The Rusting of Arctic Rivers: Freshwater Ecosystems Respond to Rapidly Uptaking Metals
The water quality of streams and rivers in the Arctic is sensitive to rapid climate change and altered disturbance regimes.
Alaska Science Center Weekly Findings
Recent findings by USGS Alaska Science Center staff and their collaborators.