Water-Resources Activities of the U.S. Geological Survey in Minnesota, Fiscal Year 1985

Document
Description
The Geological Survey was established as an agency in the Department of the Interior by an Act of Congress in 1879. The growth of its scientific and engineering investigations has paralleled the growth of the United States and has contributed to that development. Initially, the mission of the Geological Survey was to assess the mineral resources of the United States. However, as need arose, the Survey mission expanded and the organization eventually was divided into several operating Divisions and Offices, each addressing specific aspects of natural resources. As a result of its expanding research and fact finding role, the Geological Survey has become the Nation's largest earth science research agency, the largest civilian mapmaking agency, the primary source of data on the Nation's surface-water and ground-water resources, and the employer of the largest number of professional earth scientists. Today's programs, which serve a diversity of needs and users, include: Conducting detailed assessments of the energy and mineral potential of the Nation's land and offshore areas. Investigating and issuing warnings of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and other geologic and hydrologic hazards. Conducting research on the geologic structure of the Nation. Studying the geologic features, structure, processes, and history of the other planets of our solar system. Conducting topographic surveys of the Nation and preparing topographic and thematic maps and related cartographic products. Developing and producing digital cartographic data bases and products. Collecting data on a routine basis to determine the quantity, quality, and use of surface and ground water. Conducting water-resource appraisals in order to describe the consequences of alternative plans for developing land and water resources. " Conducting research in hydraulics and hydrology, and coordinating all Federal water-data acquisition. Using remotely sensed data to develop new cartographic, geologic, and hydrologic research techniques for natural resources planning and management. " Providing earth-science information through an extensive publications program and a network of public access points. Along with its continuing commitment to meet the growing and changing earth-science needs of the nation, the Survey remains dedicated to its original mission to collect, analyze, interpret, publish, and disseminate information about the natural resources of the Nation providing "Earth Science in the Public Service." Organizational units of the Survey that currently have activities in Minnesota are the Water Resources, Geologic, National Mapping, and Information Systems Divisions, the Office of Earth Sciences Applications, the Office of Hazardous Waste Hydrology, and the Office of National Water Summary. Effective management of water resources requires that up-to-date scientific hydrologic information be readily available for planners and managers. The Water Resources Division has the principal responsibility within the Federal Government for providing hydrologic data and appraising water resources to facilitate evaluation of water problems. The Division's program is designed to present accurate and unbiased data and scientific analyses. The Water Resources Division supplies reports and maps to the public as Federal, State, and local publications, in technical journals, and through selected libraries. The U.S. Geological Survey provides extensive support to the missions of other Federal agencies and, under the Federal-State Cooperative Program, to State and local agencies. In this way, the Survey keeps abreast of water information needs at all levels of government and develops programs responsive to those needs. A major responsibility was assigned to the Survey in 196*1 when it was designated the lead agency for coordinating water-data-acquisition activities of all Federal agencies, including information on streams, lakes, reservoirs, estuaries, and ground water. This coordination effort minimizes duplication of data collection among Federal agencies and strengthens the overall data base and its accessibility.
Date Issued
1986
Number of Pages
88
Decade
Author
Publisher
U.S. Geological Survey
Keywords
Rights Holder
Minnesota Water Research Digital Library
Rights Management
Creative Commons