In order to manage our water resources well, we need to know how much water we have and how useful it is at any given time or place. To assess real-time water conditions and forecast future changes of water availability for human and ecological uses, the USGS monitors the Nation's water resources through multiple national water observing networks utilizing a variety of technologies and methods.
Water Monitoring Network Links
Learn more about the water monitoring networks that collect data on the Nation's water resources.
Water Data for the Nation
Data from our national water networks can be found using the USGS Water Data for the Nation web interface.
National Water Dashboard
The National Water Dashboard brings all real-time USGS water data together with other datasets from our federal partners.
The USGS National Water Monitoring Network is a set of national water data collection networks that support the USGS mission to protect life, property, the environment, and the economy of the Nation. To assess current water conditions, assess current water-availability for human and ecological uses and forecast future changes, the USGS monitors the core components of the water cycle—namely surface water, groundwater, and atmospheric processes – at a wide variety of locations using nationally consistent approaches and analytical methods. This “network of networks” provides high-quality data about the Nation’s water resources that stakeholders and external partners rely on to inform water resource decisions at the federal, state, and local levels.
How do we monitor water?
We select monitoring locations and technologies based on an array of needs – water resource type, environmental setting, monitoring frequency, data collection and processing, access to power and communications infrastructure, personnel safety, and many other factors. We may install a real-time streamgage near a bridge on a river that is prone to flooding so local emergency officials can be alerted when conditions get dangerous. Our scientists may cross-country ski into an otherwise inaccessible site in the Rocky Mountains to manually measure snow depth to determine how snowpack – and consequently, downstream water availability – is affected by winter precipitation patterns.
Water monitoring can either be automated using sensors at fixed locations that record and transmit continuously or can be conducted manually using techniques designed to obtain a single measurement. At many sites we monitor continuously for long periods of time (like our Centennial streamgages, with over 100 years of data) to understand how current conditions compare to historical baselines. In some cases, we only need to monitor a location for a few years, at a certain time of year, or for a few days during a hydrologic event (such as a flood or drought) when we want to answer a very specific scientific question.
USGS personnel are trained to measure, document methods and quality-assure water data according to nationally consistent methods. Even at automated sites, our scientists routinely visit each monitoring location to ensure the data collected are as accurate and timely as possible. Real-time data are automatically screened for spurious data points and released as “provisional” data until they are reviewed by our scientists and finalized for publication.
What is the USGS National Water Monitoring Network?
The USGS National Water Monitoring Network provides fundamental datasets for USGS water science activities that are collected through monitoring and sampling. It’s operated in a consistent manner nationwide using defined data collection and quality-assurance standards and protocols, which allows water data collected in Oregon to be compared to data collected in Tennessee, or for data collected in 2024 to be compared to the past 50 years of record. It also provides a nationally consistent reference network to which any other data collection activities can be compared.
Data from the USGS National Water Monitoring Network can be accessed through the USGS Water Data for the Nation website and web services.
Why do we call it a “network of networks”?
The USGS National Water Monitoring Network is a "network of networks." It is comprised of several national water observing networks that cover different aspects of water quality and quantity. For example, the National Streamgaging Network is a network of over 11,000 sites at which water quantity data is collected. The National Water Quality Network is a network of more than 100 riverine locations and more than 2,000 groundwater wells at which water quality data is collected. Each component of the USGS National Water Monitoring Network has specific design criteria to ensure it is meeting its intended purpose.
The USGS National Water Monitoring Network can also be augmented with other USGS regional and local monitoring activities which are collected using the same protocols, but with a more specific purpose in conjunction with local partners and stakeholders. For example, networks of fixed-site monitoring locations can be complemented by either manually collected data or short-term deployments of specialized sensors to collect specific data for a particular study, or event.
How is the USGS National Water Monitoring Network funded?
The funding for the USGS National Water Monitoring Network comes from a mixture of federally-appropriated and cooperative partner dollars—from other federal agencies to state/local partners—that ensures stakeholder interests from all levels are accounted for. It is the foundation for the Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program (GWSIP) and the National Water Quality Program (NWQP).
The backbone of the National Water Monitoring Network is typically supported through federal appropriations, while many sites of the broader networks are used to meet more regional/local data needs and funded through numerous partnerships.
What is the Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS)?
The focus of the Next-Generation Water Observing Systems (NGWOS) Program is to modernize our water monitoring networks by incorporating new instrumentation technologies and research, such as innovative webcams and new ground- and space-based sensors. NGWOS is working internally as well as with universities and the private sector to identify, develop, and evaluate innovative water monitoring technologies and methods that are intended to improve operational efficiencies and help modernize the USGS national hydrologic monitoring network as well as data delivery tools. The gained efficiencies and modernized instrumentation and methods through NGWOS can lead to increases in the spatial and temporal resolution of the national water monitoring network, which will provide more information for water managers and other stakeholders to make informed decisions.
Authorizations
USGS activities are conducted under the authority of various pieces of authorizing federal legislation. The following is a subset of authorizations that are related to the overall National Water Monitoring Network and all of its sub-networks:
43 U.S.C. § 31 | The Organic Act of March 3, 1879 (20 Stat. 394)
The Organic Act of March 3, 1879, as amended, establishes the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Provides, among other matters, that the USGS is directed to classify the public lands and examine the geological structure, mineral resources, and products within and outside the national domain. Establishes the Office of the Director of the United States Geological Survey under the Department of the Interior. The Director is appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
The Economy Act of 1932, as amended (31 U.S.C. 1535) authorizes any agency to obtain goods and services from and reimburse any other agency if certain criteria are met.
43 U.S.C. § 36(b); § 50; § 50b | Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 118-42; Pub. L. 99-500; Pub. L. 77-842; Pub. L. 86-406)
Authorizes the implementation of the USGS Cooperative Matching Funds as they are used to partner with over 1,600 State, regional, and local agencies.
Here is a full list of Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program authorizations.
Please visit the individual Network pages for more specific authorities.
USGS National Water Quality Network
Centennial Streamgages
National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP)
USGS National Streamgaging Network
Federal Priority Streamgages (FPS)
In order to manage our water resources well, we need to know how much water we have and how useful it is at any given time or place. To assess real-time water conditions and forecast future changes of water availability for human and ecological uses, the USGS monitors the Nation's water resources through multiple national water observing networks utilizing a variety of technologies and methods.
Water Monitoring Network Links
Learn more about the water monitoring networks that collect data on the Nation's water resources.
Water Data for the Nation
Data from our national water networks can be found using the USGS Water Data for the Nation web interface.
National Water Dashboard
The National Water Dashboard brings all real-time USGS water data together with other datasets from our federal partners.
The USGS National Water Monitoring Network is a set of national water data collection networks that support the USGS mission to protect life, property, the environment, and the economy of the Nation. To assess current water conditions, assess current water-availability for human and ecological uses and forecast future changes, the USGS monitors the core components of the water cycle—namely surface water, groundwater, and atmospheric processes – at a wide variety of locations using nationally consistent approaches and analytical methods. This “network of networks” provides high-quality data about the Nation’s water resources that stakeholders and external partners rely on to inform water resource decisions at the federal, state, and local levels.
How do we monitor water?
We select monitoring locations and technologies based on an array of needs – water resource type, environmental setting, monitoring frequency, data collection and processing, access to power and communications infrastructure, personnel safety, and many other factors. We may install a real-time streamgage near a bridge on a river that is prone to flooding so local emergency officials can be alerted when conditions get dangerous. Our scientists may cross-country ski into an otherwise inaccessible site in the Rocky Mountains to manually measure snow depth to determine how snowpack – and consequently, downstream water availability – is affected by winter precipitation patterns.
Water monitoring can either be automated using sensors at fixed locations that record and transmit continuously or can be conducted manually using techniques designed to obtain a single measurement. At many sites we monitor continuously for long periods of time (like our Centennial streamgages, with over 100 years of data) to understand how current conditions compare to historical baselines. In some cases, we only need to monitor a location for a few years, at a certain time of year, or for a few days during a hydrologic event (such as a flood or drought) when we want to answer a very specific scientific question.
USGS personnel are trained to measure, document methods and quality-assure water data according to nationally consistent methods. Even at automated sites, our scientists routinely visit each monitoring location to ensure the data collected are as accurate and timely as possible. Real-time data are automatically screened for spurious data points and released as “provisional” data until they are reviewed by our scientists and finalized for publication.
What is the USGS National Water Monitoring Network?
The USGS National Water Monitoring Network provides fundamental datasets for USGS water science activities that are collected through monitoring and sampling. It’s operated in a consistent manner nationwide using defined data collection and quality-assurance standards and protocols, which allows water data collected in Oregon to be compared to data collected in Tennessee, or for data collected in 2024 to be compared to the past 50 years of record. It also provides a nationally consistent reference network to which any other data collection activities can be compared.
Data from the USGS National Water Monitoring Network can be accessed through the USGS Water Data for the Nation website and web services.
Why do we call it a “network of networks”?
The USGS National Water Monitoring Network is a "network of networks." It is comprised of several national water observing networks that cover different aspects of water quality and quantity. For example, the National Streamgaging Network is a network of over 11,000 sites at which water quantity data is collected. The National Water Quality Network is a network of more than 100 riverine locations and more than 2,000 groundwater wells at which water quality data is collected. Each component of the USGS National Water Monitoring Network has specific design criteria to ensure it is meeting its intended purpose.
The USGS National Water Monitoring Network can also be augmented with other USGS regional and local monitoring activities which are collected using the same protocols, but with a more specific purpose in conjunction with local partners and stakeholders. For example, networks of fixed-site monitoring locations can be complemented by either manually collected data or short-term deployments of specialized sensors to collect specific data for a particular study, or event.
How is the USGS National Water Monitoring Network funded?
The funding for the USGS National Water Monitoring Network comes from a mixture of federally-appropriated and cooperative partner dollars—from other federal agencies to state/local partners—that ensures stakeholder interests from all levels are accounted for. It is the foundation for the Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program (GWSIP) and the National Water Quality Program (NWQP).
The backbone of the National Water Monitoring Network is typically supported through federal appropriations, while many sites of the broader networks are used to meet more regional/local data needs and funded through numerous partnerships.
What is the Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS)?
The focus of the Next-Generation Water Observing Systems (NGWOS) Program is to modernize our water monitoring networks by incorporating new instrumentation technologies and research, such as innovative webcams and new ground- and space-based sensors. NGWOS is working internally as well as with universities and the private sector to identify, develop, and evaluate innovative water monitoring technologies and methods that are intended to improve operational efficiencies and help modernize the USGS national hydrologic monitoring network as well as data delivery tools. The gained efficiencies and modernized instrumentation and methods through NGWOS can lead to increases in the spatial and temporal resolution of the national water monitoring network, which will provide more information for water managers and other stakeholders to make informed decisions.
Authorizations
USGS activities are conducted under the authority of various pieces of authorizing federal legislation. The following is a subset of authorizations that are related to the overall National Water Monitoring Network and all of its sub-networks:
43 U.S.C. § 31 | The Organic Act of March 3, 1879 (20 Stat. 394)
The Organic Act of March 3, 1879, as amended, establishes the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Provides, among other matters, that the USGS is directed to classify the public lands and examine the geological structure, mineral resources, and products within and outside the national domain. Establishes the Office of the Director of the United States Geological Survey under the Department of the Interior. The Director is appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
The Economy Act of 1932, as amended (31 U.S.C. 1535) authorizes any agency to obtain goods and services from and reimburse any other agency if certain criteria are met.
43 U.S.C. § 36(b); § 50; § 50b | Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 118-42; Pub. L. 99-500; Pub. L. 77-842; Pub. L. 86-406)
Authorizes the implementation of the USGS Cooperative Matching Funds as they are used to partner with over 1,600 State, regional, and local agencies.
Here is a full list of Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program authorizations.
Please visit the individual Network pages for more specific authorities.