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

U.S. Geological Survey scientists measure what often remains invisible – groundwater in the southeast Puget Sound region

U.S. Geological Survey scientists measure what often remains invisible – groundwater in the southeast Puget Sound region

USGS, University of Alabama celebrate opening of world-class hydrologic facility

USGS, University of Alabama celebrate opening of world-class hydrologic facility

Algal blooms aren’t always harmful, but when they are, science is here to help

Algal blooms aren’t always harmful, but when they are, science is here to help

Publications

Computation of bromide concentrations at the Kansas River at De Soto, Kansas, January 2021 through October 2023

The Kansas River is an essential water resource that provides drinking water to more than 950,000 people in northeastern Kansas. Water suppliers that rely on the Kansas River as a water-supply source use physical and chemical water-treatment strategies to remove contaminants before distribution. Water District No. 1 of Johnson County, Kansas (WaterOne), is the largest water supplier in the State a
Authors
Thomas J. Williams, Greg S. Totzke

Assessment of water levels, nitrate, and arsenic in the Carson Valley Alluvial Aquifer and the development of a data visualization tool for the Carson River Basin, Nevada

Residents of Carson Valley, Douglas County, Nevada, rely on the basin-fill alluvial aquifer underlying the valley for drinking water. Since the 1980s, groundwater levels and water-quality data have been collected to monitor the status of the aquifer system and to assist in planning efforts to address current (2024) and future demand. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with Douglas C
Authors
Ramon C. Naranjo, Anjela Bubiy

Declining reservoir reliability and increasing reservoir vulnerability: Long-term observations reveal longer and more severe periods of low reservoir storage for major United States reservoirs

Hydrological drought is a pervasive and reoccurring challenge in managing water resources. Reservoirs are critical for lessening the impacts of drought on water available for many uses. We use a novel and generalized approach to identify periods of unusually low reservoir storage—via comparisons to operational rule curves and historical patterns—to investigate how droughts affect storage in 250 re
Authors
Caelan Simeone, John C. Hammond, Stacey A. Archfield, Dan Broman, Laura Condon, Hisham Eldardiry, Carolyn G. Olson, Jen Steyaert

Science

Integrated Water Prediction (IWP)

The USGS Integrated Water Prediction science program is focused on developing and improving model code, workflows, and applications of core water availability components at a national extent.
link

Integrated Water Prediction (IWP)

The USGS Integrated Water Prediction science program is focused on developing and improving model code, workflows, and applications of core water availability components at a national extent.
Learn More

Centennial Streamgages

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

Centennial Streamgages

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

Water Science School

The USGS Water Science School is an educational resource provided by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) focused on all things water science. It offers a variety of information, and interactive activities designed to teach students, educators, and the public about various aspects of water.
link

Water Science School

The USGS Water Science School is an educational resource provided by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) focused on all things water science. It offers a variety of information, and interactive activities designed to teach students, educators, and the public about various aspects of water.
Learn More