Water priorities for the nation-U.S. Geological survey integrated water availability assessments

Abstract

The United States faces growing challenges to its water supply, infrastructure, and aquatic ecosystems because of population growth, climate change, floods and droughts, and aging water delivery systems. To help address these challenges, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Water Resources Mission Area (WMA) has established the Integrated Water Availability Assessments (IWAAs) to capitalize on the operational and scientific strengths of the USGS and engage in these complex societal issues. Substantial advances in water science, together with innovations in technological and computational capabilities, have resulted in sophisticated new monitoring and modeling capabilities that can provide managers with the data, decision support systems, information, and insights needed to address today’s water-availability challenges.