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Integrated Water Availability Assessments

The USGS Water Resources Mission Area is assessing how much water is available for human and ecological needs in the United States and identifying where and when the Nation may have challenges meeting its demand for water.  

News

USGS releases a comprehensive look at water resources in the United States

USGS releases a comprehensive look at water resources in the United States

El USGS selecciona la Cuenca del Río Trinity-San Jacinto para estudiar los impactos del cambio climático y la variabilidad del nivel del mar

El USGS selecciona la Cuenca del Río Trinity-San Jacinto para estudiar los impactos del cambio climático y la variabilidad del nivel del mar

USGS Selects Trinity-San Jacinto River Basin to Study Impacts of Climate Change, Sea Level Variability

USGS Selects Trinity-San Jacinto River Basin to Study Impacts of Climate Change, Sea Level Variability

Publications

Integrated water availability in the conterminous United States, 2010–20 Integrated water availability in the conterminous United States, 2010–20

Water availability is defined as the spatial and temporal distribution of water quantity and quality as it relates to the needs of humans and ecosystems. Broad assessment of water availability requires the consideration of multiple indicators because water users have different sensitivities to the degradation of water conditions. This chapter draws upon estimates of water supply, water...
Authors
Edward G. Stets, Matthew J. Cashman, Olivia L. Miller, Kathryn Powlen

Water use across the conterminous United States, water years 2010–20 Water use across the conterminous United States, water years 2010–20

Withdrawals of water for human use are fundamental to the evaluation of the Nation’s water availability. This chapter provides an analysis of public supply, crop irrigation, and thermoelectric power water use for the conterminous United States (CONUS) during water years 2010–20. These three categories account for about 90 percent of water withdrawals in the Nation. The values presented...
Authors
Laura Medalie, Amy E. Galanter, Anthony J. Martinez, Althea A. Archer, Carol L. Luukkonen, Melissa A. Harris, Jonathan V. Haynes

Status of water-quality conditions in the United States, 2010–20 Status of water-quality conditions in the United States, 2010–20

Degradation of water quality can make water harmful or unusable for humans and ecosystems. Although many studies have assessed the effect of individual constituents or narrow suites of constituents on freshwater systems, no consistent, comprehensive assessment exists over the wide range of water-quality effects on water availability. Using published studies, data, and models completed at...
Authors
Melinda L. Erickson, Olivia L. Miller, Matthew J. Cashman, James R. Degnan, James E. Reddy, Anthony J. Martinez, Elmera Azadpour

Science

Integrating water availability in the Klamath Basin: from drought to dam removal

The USGS Water Resources Mission Area is assessing how much water is available for human and ecological needs in the United States and identifying where and when the Nation may have challenges meeting its demand for water. This information helps decision makers manage and distribute water in ways that balance competing needs. Due to its complex and competing water demands, ecological significance...
Integrating water availability in the Klamath Basin: from drought to dam removal

Integrating water availability in the Klamath Basin: from drought to dam removal

The USGS Water Resources Mission Area is assessing how much water is available for human and ecological needs in the United States and identifying where and when the Nation may have challenges meeting its demand for water. This information helps decision makers manage and distribute water in ways that balance competing needs. Due to its complex and competing water demands, ecological significance...
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Integrated Water Availability Assessments Fundamentals

The USGS Water Resources Mission Area is assessing how much water is available for human and ecological needs in the United States and identifying where and when the Nation may have challenges meeting its demand for water.
Integrated Water Availability Assessments Fundamentals

Integrated Water Availability Assessments Fundamentals

The USGS Water Resources Mission Area is assessing how much water is available for human and ecological needs in the United States and identifying where and when the Nation may have challenges meeting its demand for water.
Learn More

National Water Availability Assessment: Key Findings

This interactive website highlights the top scientific findings of the National Water Availability Assessment report through engaging stories, plain-language explanations, and interactive data visualizations.
National Water Availability Assessment: Key Findings

National Water Availability Assessment: Key Findings

This interactive website highlights the top scientific findings of the National Water Availability Assessment report through engaging stories, plain-language explanations, and interactive data visualizations.
Learn More

Multimedia

Images that represent downloading integrated water data
National Water Availability Assessment Data Companion capabilities
National Water Availability Assessment Data Companion capabilities
Map of the Upper Colorado River Basin, Integrated Water Availability Assessment.
Map of Upper Colorado River Basin - Integrated Water Availability
Map of Upper Colorado River Basin - Integrated Water Availability
see caption
Integrated Water Science in the Klamath River Basin, Diagram
Integrated Water Science in the Klamath River Basin, Diagram
Map showing the distribution of modeled water use by category for each watershed (HUC12) in the lower 48 United States.
Water use map (2020)
Water use map (2020)
Chart showing surface water supply and demand by U.S. hydrologic region
Water supply vs demand 2010-2020
Water supply vs demand 2010-2020
Bar charts showing average daily water use by water-use type (public supply, thermoelectric power, and crop irrigation).
Water use 2010-2020 by type
Water use 2010-2020 by type
Stacked bar chart showing total water use by year and water use type.
Total water use (2010-2020)
Total water use (2010-2020)
Illustration showing what happens to the water that falls as precipitation over the continental U.S.
The water cycle of the U.S.
The water cycle of the U.S.
Illustration of a landscape showing typical ways that water is used for public supply, thermoelectric power, and irrigation
Water Use in the U.S. - daily water use
Water Use in the U.S. - daily water use
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