Aug. 20, 2014 -- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) routinely collects a wide range of hydrologic data, assures the quality of this data, and makes historical and continuing records of the nation's water resources freely available in national databases.
Accordingly, USGS scientists have recently published two separate papers that provide national overviews of the status of USGS water resources information in the context of historical and technical developments in the last half-century.
In the report "Past, Present, and Future of Water Data Delivery from the U.S. Geological Survey", Robert M. Hirsch and Gary T. Fisher (retired) noted that USGS innovations, aided by rapidly-improving technology, have enabled a transition in recent years from paper reports to online reports and from daily data to instantaneous data.
An increasing emphasis on national and international data standards and web services makes it possible for users in the water management and research communities to quickly and easily import USGS water data into the operational and scientific software tools that they use. Further, distributing water data with applications on new mobile platforms brings value to new and nontraditional consumers of hydrologic information.
Likewise, USGS Chief Scientist for Water Jerad D. Bales reviewed 1974 predictions in the May 2014 edition of Water Resources Impact about how water data would be collected in the future and how those predictions have been fulfilled or altered. He also described factors, both technical and otherwise, affecting changes in water resources data collection and management, as well as future challenges for water data collection.
See also:
"USGS celebrates 50th anniversary of Water Resources Research Act"
"USGS to grant states $43M for outdoor developments through Land, Water Conservation Fund"
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