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National Water Census: Focus Area Studies Active

By Water Resources March 2, 2019

Focus Area Studies are stakeholder-driven assessments of water availability in river basins with known or potential conflict. They contribute toward ongoing assessments of water availability in large watersheds, provide opportunities to test and improve approaches to water availability assessment, and inform and ground truth the National Water Census with local information. Common to each of the three ongoing Focus Area Studies is the focus on key water-budget components and the integration of assessment tools, including computer models, to better understand the linkages among budget components—surface water and groundwater—and their relation to the ecosystems they support.

Water Census  •  Streamflow  •  Groundwater  •  Water Use  •  Environmental Flows  •  Evapotranspiration  •  Focus Area Studies

 

Water Census: Coastal Carolinas
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
                           Coastal Carolinas
Water Census: Red River
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
                                  Red River

 

Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
           Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint
Water Census: Upper Rio Grande
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
                          Upper Rio Grande

 

Water Census: Colorado
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
                               Colorado
Water Census: Delaware
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
                                Delaware

Below are other science components of the National Water Census.

link
Map of Water Availability and Use Program 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.
By
Water Resources
link

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.
Learn More
link
Image of a stream for the streamflow section of the National Water Census website

National Water Census: Streamflow

The USGS National Water Census complements the USGS national network of more than 8,000 streamgages by estimating streamflow for ungaged locations throughout the country, by analyzing streamflow records, and by providing tools for analysis of streamgage data to end users. The USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) makes the actual streamgage data available to the public, most of it in "near...
By
Water Resources
link

National Water Census: Streamflow

The USGS National Water Census complements the USGS national network of more than 8,000 streamgages by estimating streamflow for ungaged locations throughout the country, by analyzing streamflow records, and by providing tools for analysis of streamgage data to end users. The USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) makes the actual streamgage data available to the public, most of it in "near...
Learn More
link
Image of an artesian well for the groundwater section of the National Water Census website

National Water Census: Groundwater

The National Water Census (NWC) is leveraging a long history of groundwater studies and is accelerating ongoing regional studies to assess the Nation's groundwater reserves, studies that formerly were conducted under the USGS Groundwater Resources Program. The NWC is also increasing the ability to integrate groundwater and surface-water analyses into watershed-level assessments of water...
By
Water Resources
link

National Water Census: Groundwater

The National Water Census (NWC) is leveraging a long history of groundwater studies and is accelerating ongoing regional studies to assess the Nation's groundwater reserves, studies that formerly were conducted under the USGS Groundwater Resources Program. The NWC is also increasing the ability to integrate groundwater and surface-water analyses into watershed-level assessments of water...
Learn More
link
Image of agricultural irrigation for the water use section of the National Water Census website

National Water Census: Water Use

Through the National Water Census, USGS will provide more comprehensive reporting of national information on withdrawal, conveyance, consumptive use, and return flow by water-use category. Water-use data enables water managers to plan more strategically and enables the analysis of trends of over time. It is also vital to water-availability studies such as watershed and groundwater models.
By
Water Resources, Water Resources Research Act Program
link

National Water Census: Water Use

Through the National Water Census, USGS will provide more comprehensive reporting of national information on withdrawal, conveyance, consumptive use, and return flow by water-use category. Water-use data enables water managers to plan more strategically and enables the analysis of trends of over time. It is also vital to water-availability studies such as watershed and groundwater models.
Learn More
link
Image of bull trout for the environmental flows section of the National Water Census website

National Water Census: Environmental Flows

Environmental water studies refer to understanding the quantity, timing, and quality of water flows, as well as the water levels and storage required to sustain freshwater and estuarine ecosystems and the human livelihoods that depend on these ecosystems. The concept of ‘environmental flows’ in stream ecology are the basis of these studies, but they go beyond the understanding of surface flows and...
By
Water Resources
link

National Water Census: Environmental Flows

Environmental water studies refer to understanding the quantity, timing, and quality of water flows, as well as the water levels and storage required to sustain freshwater and estuarine ecosystems and the human livelihoods that depend on these ecosystems. The concept of ‘environmental flows’ in stream ecology are the basis of these studies, but they go beyond the understanding of surface flows and...
Learn More
link
Map of evapotranspiration in the Colorado River Basin for the evapotranspiration section of the National Water Census website

National Water Census: Evapotranspiration

No water budget would be complete without accounting for evaporation and related processes, such as transpiration and sublimation. Evapotranspiration, or "ET," refers to the combined flux of plant transpiration and evaporation from the adjacent soil. It is especially important for understanding water used by irrigated crops, and is related to crop productivity. Consumptive water use for irrigation...
By
Water Resources
link

National Water Census: Evapotranspiration

No water budget would be complete without accounting for evaporation and related processes, such as transpiration and sublimation. Evapotranspiration, or "ET," refers to the combined flux of plant transpiration and evaporation from the adjacent soil. It is especially important for understanding water used by irrigated crops, and is related to crop productivity. Consumptive water use for irrigation...
Learn More
link
Water Census: Coastal Carolinas

Coastal Carolinas Focus Area Study

The USGS is undertaking a 3-year study of water availability and use to investigate competing societal and ecological needs in Southeastern Atlantic Coastal Basins of the Carolinas. This study will compile existing information, add new scientific data and interpretation, and develop tools to help resource managers and stakeholders address current and future water-use challenges.
By
Water Resources
link

Coastal Carolinas Focus Area Study

The USGS is undertaking a 3-year study of water availability and use to investigate competing societal and ecological needs in Southeastern Atlantic Coastal Basins of the Carolinas. This study will compile existing information, add new scientific data and interpretation, and develop tools to help resource managers and stakeholders address current and future water-use challenges.
Learn More
  • Overview

    Focus Area Studies are stakeholder-driven assessments of water availability in river basins with known or potential conflict. They contribute toward ongoing assessments of water availability in large watersheds, provide opportunities to test and improve approaches to water availability assessment, and inform and ground truth the National Water Census with local information. Common to each of the three ongoing Focus Area Studies is the focus on key water-budget components and the integration of assessment tools, including computer models, to better understand the linkages among budget components—surface water and groundwater—and their relation to the ecosystems they support.

    Water Census  •  Streamflow  •  Groundwater  •  Water Use  •  Environmental Flows  •  Evapotranspiration  •  Focus Area Studies

     

    Water Census: Coastal Carolinas
    Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
                               Coastal Carolinas
    Water Census: Red River
    Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
                                      Red River

     

    Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint
    Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
               Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint
    Water Census: Upper Rio Grande
    Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
                              Upper Rio Grande

     

    Water Census: Colorado
    Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
                                   Colorado
    Water Census: Delaware
    Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
                                    Delaware
  • Science

    Below are other science components of the National Water Census.

    link
    Map of Water Availability and Use Program 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.
    By
    Water Resources
    link

    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.
    Learn More
    link
    Image of a stream for the streamflow section of the National Water Census website

    National Water Census: Streamflow

    The USGS National Water Census complements the USGS national network of more than 8,000 streamgages by estimating streamflow for ungaged locations throughout the country, by analyzing streamflow records, and by providing tools for analysis of streamgage data to end users. The USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) makes the actual streamgage data available to the public, most of it in "near...
    By
    Water Resources
    link

    National Water Census: Streamflow

    The USGS National Water Census complements the USGS national network of more than 8,000 streamgages by estimating streamflow for ungaged locations throughout the country, by analyzing streamflow records, and by providing tools for analysis of streamgage data to end users. The USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) makes the actual streamgage data available to the public, most of it in "near...
    Learn More
    link
    Image of an artesian well for the groundwater section of the National Water Census website

    National Water Census: Groundwater

    The National Water Census (NWC) is leveraging a long history of groundwater studies and is accelerating ongoing regional studies to assess the Nation's groundwater reserves, studies that formerly were conducted under the USGS Groundwater Resources Program. The NWC is also increasing the ability to integrate groundwater and surface-water analyses into watershed-level assessments of water...
    By
    Water Resources
    link

    National Water Census: Groundwater

    The National Water Census (NWC) is leveraging a long history of groundwater studies and is accelerating ongoing regional studies to assess the Nation's groundwater reserves, studies that formerly were conducted under the USGS Groundwater Resources Program. The NWC is also increasing the ability to integrate groundwater and surface-water analyses into watershed-level assessments of water...
    Learn More
    link
    Image of agricultural irrigation for the water use section of the National Water Census website

    National Water Census: Water Use

    Through the National Water Census, USGS will provide more comprehensive reporting of national information on withdrawal, conveyance, consumptive use, and return flow by water-use category. Water-use data enables water managers to plan more strategically and enables the analysis of trends of over time. It is also vital to water-availability studies such as watershed and groundwater models.
    By
    Water Resources, Water Resources Research Act Program
    link

    National Water Census: Water Use

    Through the National Water Census, USGS will provide more comprehensive reporting of national information on withdrawal, conveyance, consumptive use, and return flow by water-use category. Water-use data enables water managers to plan more strategically and enables the analysis of trends of over time. It is also vital to water-availability studies such as watershed and groundwater models.
    Learn More
    link
    Image of bull trout for the environmental flows section of the National Water Census website

    National Water Census: Environmental Flows

    Environmental water studies refer to understanding the quantity, timing, and quality of water flows, as well as the water levels and storage required to sustain freshwater and estuarine ecosystems and the human livelihoods that depend on these ecosystems. The concept of ‘environmental flows’ in stream ecology are the basis of these studies, but they go beyond the understanding of surface flows and...
    By
    Water Resources
    link

    National Water Census: Environmental Flows

    Environmental water studies refer to understanding the quantity, timing, and quality of water flows, as well as the water levels and storage required to sustain freshwater and estuarine ecosystems and the human livelihoods that depend on these ecosystems. The concept of ‘environmental flows’ in stream ecology are the basis of these studies, but they go beyond the understanding of surface flows and...
    Learn More
    link
    Map of evapotranspiration in the Colorado River Basin for the evapotranspiration section of the National Water Census website

    National Water Census: Evapotranspiration

    No water budget would be complete without accounting for evaporation and related processes, such as transpiration and sublimation. Evapotranspiration, or "ET," refers to the combined flux of plant transpiration and evaporation from the adjacent soil. It is especially important for understanding water used by irrigated crops, and is related to crop productivity. Consumptive water use for irrigation...
    By
    Water Resources
    link

    National Water Census: Evapotranspiration

    No water budget would be complete without accounting for evaporation and related processes, such as transpiration and sublimation. Evapotranspiration, or "ET," refers to the combined flux of plant transpiration and evaporation from the adjacent soil. It is especially important for understanding water used by irrigated crops, and is related to crop productivity. Consumptive water use for irrigation...
    Learn More
    link
    Water Census: Coastal Carolinas

    Coastal Carolinas Focus Area Study

    The USGS is undertaking a 3-year study of water availability and use to investigate competing societal and ecological needs in Southeastern Atlantic Coastal Basins of the Carolinas. This study will compile existing information, add new scientific data and interpretation, and develop tools to help resource managers and stakeholders address current and future water-use challenges.
    By
    Water Resources
    link

    Coastal Carolinas Focus Area Study

    The USGS is undertaking a 3-year study of water availability and use to investigate competing societal and ecological needs in Southeastern Atlantic Coastal Basins of the Carolinas. This study will compile existing information, add new scientific data and interpretation, and develop tools to help resource managers and stakeholders address current and future water-use challenges.
    Learn More