Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Water Resources Mission Area

Water information is fundamental to national and local economic well-being, protection of life and property, and effective management of the Nation’s water resources. The USGS works with partners to monitor, assess, conduct targeted research, and deliver information on a wide range of water resources and conditions including streamflow, groundwater, water quality, and water use and availability.

News

The vital flow: Understanding water’s essential role in thermoelectric power generation

The vital flow: Understanding water’s essential role in thermoelectric power generation

Investigation of Drivers and Sources of Potential Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Anna, Virginia, 2023–24

Investigation of Drivers and Sources of Potential Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Anna, Virginia, 2023–24

September is National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month

Publications

Inverse modeling for post-wildfire hydrologic process understanding over snow-dominated watersheds Inverse modeling for post-wildfire hydrologic process understanding over snow-dominated watersheds

Wildfire-induced changes to vegetation and soil properties can alter snowpack dynamics and hydrologic processes in ways that complicate predictions of post-wildfire water availability. To better understand these effects, we coupled the Parameter ESTimation in C++ (PEST++) software with the Weather Research & Forecasting Hydrologic model (WRF-Hydro) across three burned, snow-dominated...
Authors
Trevor Fuess Partridge, Michelle A. Walvoord, Sheila F. Murphy, Michael N. Fienen, Aubrey L Dugger, Brian A. Ebel

IVyTools: Space-Time Image Velocimetry for streamflow IVyTools: Space-Time Image Velocimetry for streamflow

Accurate streamflow measurements are essential for hydrologic monitoring, flood forecasting, and water resource management. Traditional in situ methods, although reliable, are often impractical or unsafe during flood conditions or at inaccessible locations. Image velocimetry techniques offer a potential non-contact alternative, yet operational adoption has been hindered by the lack of...
Authors
Frank L. Engel, Travis M. Knight, Elizabeth A. Nystrom, Christopher Blaine Grindle

Science

Aquaculture Water Use

Aquaculture water use is water associated with raising organisms that live in water—such as finfish and shellfish—for food, restoration, conservation, or sport. Aquaculture production occurs under controlled feeding, sanitation, and harvesting procedures in ponds, flow-through raceways, cage and net pen culture systems, recirculating aquaculture systems, and aquaponics.
Aquaculture Water Use

Aquaculture Water Use

Aquaculture water use is water associated with raising organisms that live in water—such as finfish and shellfish—for food, restoration, conservation, or sport. Aquaculture production occurs under controlled feeding, sanitation, and harvesting procedures in ponds, flow-through raceways, cage and net pen culture systems, recirculating aquaculture systems, and aquaponics.
Learn More

The Rusting of Arctic Rivers: Freshwater Ecosystems Respond to Rapidly Uptaking Metals

The water quality of streams and rivers in the Arctic is sensitive to rapid climate change and altered disturbance regimes.
The Rusting of Arctic Rivers: Freshwater Ecosystems Respond to Rapidly Uptaking Metals

The Rusting of Arctic Rivers: Freshwater Ecosystems Respond to Rapidly Uptaking Metals

The water quality of streams and rivers in the Arctic is sensitive to rapid climate change and altered disturbance regimes.
Learn More

Centennial Streamgages

Centennial Streamgages are USGS streamgages that have been in operation for more than 100 years.
Centennial Streamgages

Centennial Streamgages

Centennial Streamgages are USGS streamgages that have been in operation for more than 100 years.
Learn More
Was this page helpful?