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Water-Use Data and Research (WUDR) program

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By Water Resources Mission Area August 24, 2021

Water-Use Data and Research Project Viewer

Access completed workplans and links to completed State projects

Go to the Project Viewer

The USGS Water-Use Data and Research (WUDR) program provides financial assistance through cooperative agreements with State water resource agencies to improve the availability, quality, compatibility, and delivery of water-use data that is collected or estimated by States.

 

Program Proposals and Awards

Collage of water-use data collection project work

Grant application information, State workplans, program awards

More information

Water Use Open Forum

Speaker podium graphic

Water-use webinar series for the greater water-use community to share challenges and solutions to water-use data issues

More information

More Information

Background

Water managers across the United States require more complete, timely, and accurate water-availability information to support policy and decision-making, specifically, data associated with water withdrawals and consumptive use. Recognizing the limitations of current water-use data, the SECURE Water Act authorized a program that supports activities related to data collection and methods research and development at the State level.  The Act requires that these State water use and availability datasets be integrated with appropriate datasets that are developed or maintained by the USGS.

Federal fiscal year 2015 (FY15), was the first year that funding was appropriated for this program. In FY15 funding was distributed to State Water-Resource Agencies non-competitively to allow each State to evaluate their current water-use data in relation to USGS baseline standards for each category of water user and to develop a workplan to improve it. In FY16 and subsequent years, funding was distributed under a competitive proposal process.

In 2015, the Interstate Council on Water Policy held three stakeholder meetings to further develop the technical priorities of the WUDR Cooperative Agreements and help develop the foundation for the competitive announcement in FY16. The stakeholder meetings provided the State water-resources agencies an opportunity to share the water-use data and research priorities for each of their respective States, and how those priorities fit with USGS priorities.

 

Information sheets

 

Water-Use Open Forum

The USGS is pleased to host a water-use webinar series to provide the greater water-use community with an opportunity to share challenges, and solutions to water-use data issues such as data collection, data storage, quality assurance, analysis, and data dissemination. To see information on upcoming and previous presentations visit the Water Use Open Forum page.

Please email the WUDR Coordinator to be added to the email list for announcements of future talks.

 

Program proposals and awards

Proposals

The 2024 awards cycle is underway. 

More information on grant applications and workplans.

Three Q&A sessions for FY 24 will be held in Microsoft Teams to help with the application process:

Additionally, applicants may contact the Water Use Data and Research (WUDR) program coordinator with questions about the WUDR program and the proposal review, evaluation, and selection process.

Awards

 

2015 Interstate Council on Water Policy Stakeholder Meetings

Below are related information links for the Water-Use Data and Research program.

link
Water Availability and Use Science Program

Water Availability and Use Science Program

The Water Availability and Use Science Program exists to provide a more accurate assessment of the status of the water resources of the U.S., assist in the determination of the quantity and quality of water that is available for beneficial uses, identify long-term trends in water availability, and develop the basis for an improved ability to forecast the availability of fresh water.
By
Water Resources Mission Area
link

Water Availability and Use Science Program

The Water Availability and Use Science Program exists to provide a more accurate assessment of the status of the water resources of the U.S., assist in the determination of the quantity and quality of water that is available for beneficial uses, identify long-term trends in water availability, and develop the basis for an improved ability to forecast the availability of fresh water.
Learn More
link
USGS Water Use in the United States in 2015 Report Image

Water Use in the United States

Water use estimates for 2000 through 2020 are now available for the three largest categories of use in the United States: self-supplied thermoelectric power generation, self-supplied irrigation, and public supply. Five additional categories of use (self-supplied industrial, domestic, mining, livestock, and aquaculture) will be available in 2025.
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program
link

Water Use in the United States

Water use estimates for 2000 through 2020 are now available for the three largest categories of use in the United States: self-supplied thermoelectric power generation, self-supplied irrigation, and public supply. Five additional categories of use (self-supplied industrial, domestic, mining, livestock, and aquaculture) will be available in 2025.
Learn More
link
Water tower, DeKalb County, Georgia

Water-Use Data and Research program: Proposals and awards

Water-Use Data and Research (WUDR) financial assistance is awarded in a competitive process each Federal Fiscal Year. The funding cycle begins with the WUDR Program Announcement being made available on Grants.gov. State water resources agencies can then prepare proposals for improving their water-use data under the priorities described in an approved workplan. All submitted proposals are reviewed...
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program
link

Water-Use Data and Research program: Proposals and awards

Water-Use Data and Research (WUDR) financial assistance is awarded in a competitive process each Federal Fiscal Year. The funding cycle begins with the WUDR Program Announcement being made available on Grants.gov. State water resources agencies can then prepare proposals for improving their water-use data under the priorities described in an approved workplan. All submitted proposals are reviewed...
Learn More
link
Water tower, DeKalb County, Georgia

Water-Use Data and Research program: Completed State workplans

Under the Water-Use Data and Research (WUDR) program, workplans are developed by States to evaluate their current water-use data in relation to USGS baseline standards for each category of water user and develop a workplan to improve it.
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program
link

Water-Use Data and Research program: Completed State workplans

Under the Water-Use Data and Research (WUDR) program, workplans are developed by States to evaluate their current water-use data in relation to USGS baseline standards for each category of water user and develop a workplan to improve it.
Learn More
link
Speaker podium graphic

Water-Use Open Forum

The USGS Water-Use Open Forum is for those involved in water-use data collection, data management, and regulation to communicate about challenges and solutions to water-use data issues, such as data collection, storage, QA/QC, analysis and data dissemination.
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program
link

Water-Use Open Forum

The USGS Water-Use Open Forum is for those involved in water-use data collection, data management, and regulation to communicate about challenges and solutions to water-use data issues, such as data collection, storage, QA/QC, analysis and data dissemination.
Learn More
link
Collage of water use

State Contacts for Water-Use Data

Water-use data is compiled for each of the United States as well as for the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The list below contains a link to the USGS water-use site for each entity, if one exists, as well as the point of contact for State-level information.
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program
link

State Contacts for Water-Use Data

Water-use data is compiled for each of the United States as well as for the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The list below contains a link to the USGS water-use site for each entity, if one exists, as well as the point of contact for State-level information.
Learn More

Water-Use Data and Research (WUDR) Project Viewer

About this tool

The Water-Use Data and Research (WUDR) Program provides financial assistance to State water-resource agencies to improve water-use data. This viewer provides a map interface to locate projects and see the project dates, priorities addressed, and project activities. 

By
Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program

The USGS Water-Use Data and Research (WUDR) program provides financial assistance through cooperative agreements with State water resource agencies to improve the availability, quality, compatibility, and delivery of water-use data that is collected or estimated by States.

 

Program Proposals and Awards

Collage of water-use data collection project work

Grant application information, State workplans, program awards

More information

Water Use Open Forum

Speaker podium graphic

Water-use webinar series for the greater water-use community to share challenges and solutions to water-use data issues

More information

More Information

Background

Water managers across the United States require more complete, timely, and accurate water-availability information to support policy and decision-making, specifically, data associated with water withdrawals and consumptive use. Recognizing the limitations of current water-use data, the SECURE Water Act authorized a program that supports activities related to data collection and methods research and development at the State level.  The Act requires that these State water use and availability datasets be integrated with appropriate datasets that are developed or maintained by the USGS.

Federal fiscal year 2015 (FY15), was the first year that funding was appropriated for this program. In FY15 funding was distributed to State Water-Resource Agencies non-competitively to allow each State to evaluate their current water-use data in relation to USGS baseline standards for each category of water user and to develop a workplan to improve it. In FY16 and subsequent years, funding was distributed under a competitive proposal process.

In 2015, the Interstate Council on Water Policy held three stakeholder meetings to further develop the technical priorities of the WUDR Cooperative Agreements and help develop the foundation for the competitive announcement in FY16. The stakeholder meetings provided the State water-resources agencies an opportunity to share the water-use data and research priorities for each of their respective States, and how those priorities fit with USGS priorities.

 

Information sheets

 

Water-Use Open Forum

The USGS is pleased to host a water-use webinar series to provide the greater water-use community with an opportunity to share challenges, and solutions to water-use data issues such as data collection, data storage, quality assurance, analysis, and data dissemination. To see information on upcoming and previous presentations visit the Water Use Open Forum page.

Please email the WUDR Coordinator to be added to the email list for announcements of future talks.

 

Program proposals and awards

Proposals

The 2024 awards cycle is underway. 

More information on grant applications and workplans.

Three Q&A sessions for FY 24 will be held in Microsoft Teams to help with the application process:

Additionally, applicants may contact the Water Use Data and Research (WUDR) program coordinator with questions about the WUDR program and the proposal review, evaluation, and selection process.

Awards

 

2015 Interstate Council on Water Policy Stakeholder Meetings

Below are related information links for the Water-Use Data and Research program.

link
Water Availability and Use Science Program

Water Availability and Use Science Program

The Water Availability and Use Science Program exists to provide a more accurate assessment of the status of the water resources of the U.S., assist in the determination of the quantity and quality of water that is available for beneficial uses, identify long-term trends in water availability, and develop the basis for an improved ability to forecast the availability of fresh water.
By
Water Resources Mission Area
link

Water Availability and Use Science Program

The Water Availability and Use Science Program exists to provide a more accurate assessment of the status of the water resources of the U.S., assist in the determination of the quantity and quality of water that is available for beneficial uses, identify long-term trends in water availability, and develop the basis for an improved ability to forecast the availability of fresh water.
Learn More
link
USGS Water Use in the United States in 2015 Report Image

Water Use in the United States

Water use estimates for 2000 through 2020 are now available for the three largest categories of use in the United States: self-supplied thermoelectric power generation, self-supplied irrigation, and public supply. Five additional categories of use (self-supplied industrial, domestic, mining, livestock, and aquaculture) will be available in 2025.
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program
link

Water Use in the United States

Water use estimates for 2000 through 2020 are now available for the three largest categories of use in the United States: self-supplied thermoelectric power generation, self-supplied irrigation, and public supply. Five additional categories of use (self-supplied industrial, domestic, mining, livestock, and aquaculture) will be available in 2025.
Learn More
link
Water tower, DeKalb County, Georgia

Water-Use Data and Research program: Proposals and awards

Water-Use Data and Research (WUDR) financial assistance is awarded in a competitive process each Federal Fiscal Year. The funding cycle begins with the WUDR Program Announcement being made available on Grants.gov. State water resources agencies can then prepare proposals for improving their water-use data under the priorities described in an approved workplan. All submitted proposals are reviewed...
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program
link

Water-Use Data and Research program: Proposals and awards

Water-Use Data and Research (WUDR) financial assistance is awarded in a competitive process each Federal Fiscal Year. The funding cycle begins with the WUDR Program Announcement being made available on Grants.gov. State water resources agencies can then prepare proposals for improving their water-use data under the priorities described in an approved workplan. All submitted proposals are reviewed...
Learn More
link
Water tower, DeKalb County, Georgia

Water-Use Data and Research program: Completed State workplans

Under the Water-Use Data and Research (WUDR) program, workplans are developed by States to evaluate their current water-use data in relation to USGS baseline standards for each category of water user and develop a workplan to improve it.
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program
link

Water-Use Data and Research program: Completed State workplans

Under the Water-Use Data and Research (WUDR) program, workplans are developed by States to evaluate their current water-use data in relation to USGS baseline standards for each category of water user and develop a workplan to improve it.
Learn More
link
Speaker podium graphic

Water-Use Open Forum

The USGS Water-Use Open Forum is for those involved in water-use data collection, data management, and regulation to communicate about challenges and solutions to water-use data issues, such as data collection, storage, QA/QC, analysis and data dissemination.
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program
link

Water-Use Open Forum

The USGS Water-Use Open Forum is for those involved in water-use data collection, data management, and regulation to communicate about challenges and solutions to water-use data issues, such as data collection, storage, QA/QC, analysis and data dissemination.
Learn More
link
Collage of water use

State Contacts for Water-Use Data

Water-use data is compiled for each of the United States as well as for the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The list below contains a link to the USGS water-use site for each entity, if one exists, as well as the point of contact for State-level information.
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program
link

State Contacts for Water-Use Data

Water-use data is compiled for each of the United States as well as for the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The list below contains a link to the USGS water-use site for each entity, if one exists, as well as the point of contact for State-level information.
Learn More

Water-Use Data and Research (WUDR) Project Viewer

About this tool

The Water-Use Data and Research (WUDR) Program provides financial assistance to State water-resource agencies to improve water-use data. This viewer provides a map interface to locate projects and see the project dates, priorities addressed, and project activities. 

By
Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program
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