About the USGS Water Science Center for Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C.

By Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

The U.S. Geological Survey provides the Nation with reliable, impartial information to describe and understand the Earth. This information is used to:

- Minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters

- Manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources

- Enhance and protect the quality of life

- Contribute to wise economic and physical development

USGS is the Nation's largest natural-science agency and has the principal responsibility within the Federal government for mapping the Nation, assessing its geologic resources and hazards, understanding its natural biological resources, and providing hydrologic information for appraising the Nation's water resources. The Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center is mostly involved with conducting water-resources investigations.

The water resources of Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia consist of numerous streams, springs, lakes, and aquifer systems. Streamflow, groundwater levels, and water-quality data are collected at numerous locations, and water-use data are collected throughout the area. These hydrologic data and other data are used in research and hydrologic studies to describe the quantity, quality, and location of the area's water resources. The collection, analysis, and interpretation of these data is done in cooperation with other federal, state and local agencies, universities, and research centers.

The Water Science Center office in Baltimore represents all of USGS in Maryland and Washington, D.C., and the Water Science Center office in Dover represents USGS in Delaware.