The overall mission of the U.S. Geological
Survey's Water Resources Division
is to provide the hydrologic
information and understanding needed
for wise use and management of the
Nation's water resources. For nearly
100 years, the U.S. Geological Survey
has studied the occurrence, quantity,
quality, distribution, and movement of
the surface and ground water that constitutes
the Nation's water resources. As
the principal Federal water-data agency,
the U.S. Geological Survey collects and
disseminates about 70 percent of the
water data currently being used by
numerous State, local, private, and
other Federal agencies to develop and
manage our water resources. This
nationwide program, which is carried
out through the Water Resources Division's
48 District offices and 4 Regional
offices, includes the collection, analysis,
and dissemination of hydrologic
data and water-use information, areal
hydrologic resource appraisals and
other interpretive studies, and research
projects. Much of this work is a cooperative
effort in which planning and financial
support are shared by State and
local governments and other Federal
agencies.
