Water Resources
Measuring and Monitoring Water
Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility (HIF)
The HIF provides quality hydrologic equipment and instrumentation
Learn MoreStreamgaging Basics
The USGS has a nationwide network of over 8,500 sites that measure streamflow and water levels.
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Water Resources Discipline Research Seminar Series
The Water Resources Discipline (predecessor of the Water Mission Area) Research Seminar Series hosted a wide range of speakers on a diverse array of water research topics. Archived videos of many seminars are available for viewing.
Pacific Region Colloquium
The Pacific Region Colloquium, founded in February 1996 as the Western Region Colloquium, was a monthly speaker series that spanned the spectrum of earth and environmental science.
Integrated Water Availability Assessments using Cooperative Matching Funds
A group of new projects from across the U.S. will help to support development of National and Regional Integrated Water Availability Assessments (IWAAs). They will be conducted with State and local partners with the support of Cooperative Matching Funds and will focus on improving the data, tools, and information stakeholders need to make water-resource management decisions.
Pennsylvania Drought Condition Monitoring
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection relies upon a number of parameters to monitor water-supply-drought conditions, among which are four parameters displayed herein—precipitation, stream flows, groundwater levels, and the Palmer Drought-Severity Index. These parameters are used only as indicators of the four stages of...
Next Generation Water Observing System: Delaware River Basin
The USGS next-generation water observing system will provide high-fidelity, real-time data on water quantity and quality necessary to support modern water prediction and decision support systems for water emergencies and daily water operations. The Delaware River Basin pilot provides an opportunity to develop the NextGen observing system in a nationally important, complex interstate river...
Integrated Water Availability Assessments (IWAAs)
The USGS Integrated Water Availability Assessments (IWAAs) are a multi-extent, stakeholder driven, near real-time census and seasonal prediction of water availability for both human and ecological uses at regional and national extents.
USGS Streamgaging Network
The USGS Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program supports the collection and (or) delivery of both streamflow and water-level information for more than 8,500 sites and water-level information alone for more than 1,700 additional sites. The data are served online—most in near realtime—to meet many diverse needs.
Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility (HIF)
The USGS Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility (HIF) supports the water-resource monitoring efforts of USGS scientists and other Federal scientists by providing quality-assured hydrologic equipment and instrumentation support.
USGS Rapid Deployment Gages (RDGs)
USGS Rapid Deployment Gages (RDGs) are fully-functional streamgages designed to be deployed quickly and temporarily to measure and transmit stream stage data in emergency situations.
Integration of sUAS into Hydrogeophysical Studies
The USGS is evaluating the integration of small unoccupied aircraft systems – sUAS or "drones" – into USGS hydrogeophysical studies.
Water Availability and Use Science Program: National Water Census
The USGS National Water Census (NWC) is designed to systematically provide information that will allow resource managers to assess the supply, use, and availability of the Nation’s water. The goal of the NWC is to provide nationally-consistent base layers of well-documented data that account for water availability and use nationally.
Water Use in the United States
The USGS works in cooperation with local, State, and Federal agencies to collect water-use information, then compiles these data to produce water-use information aggregated at the county, state, and national levels. Every five years, data at the county level are compiled into a national water-use data system and State-level data are published in a national...