USGS Water Resources Mission Area

Business Profile

Core Value Proposition

USGS Water Resources Mission Area provides data, tools, and information about water resources (streamflow, groundwater, water quality, and water use and availability) to support national and local decision making.

Target Customer

Federal, state, and local government agencies; water resource managers; researchers; policymakers; public health officials

Key Differentiator

Nationwide, standardized water data from USGS across approximately 1.9 million sites in all 50 states, integrated with multiple web portals and tools (e.g., WaterAlert, National Water Dashboard, Water Quality Portal, National Groundwater Monitoring Network, MODFLOW, StreamStats) for data access and visualization

Implementation Timeline

Not explicitly stated; project updates and publications shown with 2025 dates; value delivery varies by project and data portal access

Pain Points

1Need for reliable, centralized water data to inform management of water resources
2Requirement for timely, accessible information on water supply, demand, and quality for decision making
3Need to understand emerging contaminants (e.g., PFAS) and long-term groundwater quality trends

Key Features

1Data portals and tools for water data access (WaterAlert, National Water Dashboard, Water Quality Portal, National Groundwater Monitoring Network Data Portal, MODFLOW, StreamStats, Water Data Visualizations)
2Real-time and historical water data across many sites and states
3Publications and scientific studies related to water resources and management
4Educational resources and open science initiatives

Target Customer Industries

Decision Makers

1Associate Director for Water Resources

Client Results

1Water data collected at approximately 1.9 million sites across all 50 states
2Announcements of national assessments such as the National Water Availability Assessment offering insights into water supply, demand, and quality
3Publicly accessible data products and dashboards for decision support

Competitive Advantages

1Authority and credibility of USGS as a national science agency
2Extensive nationwide data coverage across millions of monitoring sites
3Multiple integrated tools and portals for data access and visualization
4Open access to data and publications (where provided in content)

Key Benefits

1Access to comprehensive, nationwide water data and monitoring results

2Decision-support through dashboards, portals, and analysis tools

3Evidence-based research and publications to inform policy and management

4Open access to data and scientific findings to support transparency and public health protection

Case Studies & Success Stories

Integrating water availability in the Klamath Basin: from drought to dam removal

Case #1

USGS Water Resources Mission Area assesses how much water is available for human and ecological needs, helping decision makers manage water distribution amid competing demands in the Klamath Basin.

Applying Multiple Tools to Inform Management of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Potomac River Watershed

Case #2

Examines PFAS management challenges in waterways, including the role of municipal wastewater and multiple PFAS sources; aligns with Water Resources Mission Area activities and regional water science centers.

Alaska Science Center’s Commitment to “Gold Standard Science” for Data Products

Case #3

Describes the Alaska Science Center's mission to provide objective, timely data and research findings to federal, state, and local managers and the public to support sound decisions on natural resources, hazards, and ecosystems in Alaska and circumpolar regions.

Additional Product Information

Product Description

A program within the U.S. Geological Survey delivering data, analysis, and tools related to water resources, including streamflow, groundwater, water quality, and water use and availability; provides data portals, dashboards, and scientific publications to support water resource management and decision making.

Target Market

Federal, state, and local government agencies; resource managers; researchers; policymakers; public health officials

Unique Value Proposition

Combines nationwide water data from millions of sites with a suite of integrated tools and portals under a trusted federal science organization to enable informed water resource decisions and policy guidance.

Technical Requirements

Web-based data portals and tools (WaterAlert, National Water Dashboard, Water Quality Portal, National Groundwater Monitoring Network Data Portal, MODFLOW, StreamStats); APIs and data visualizations are listed among available resources; requires internet access and basic data literacy

Pricing Model

Not specified in the provided content; USGS data and tools are publicly listed in government content (no explicit pricing mentioned here)

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