National Water resource Census

The 21st Century brings a fresh set of water resource challenges. Water shortage and use variance have become more commonplace in many areas of the United States – even in standard water years – for irrigation of crops, for growing cities and communities, for energy production, and for the environment and class protected under the law. Much has changed since the last overall assessment of water resources for the Nation was published by the Water Resources Council in 1978.

It is time for a comprehensive examination of using what we have cultured during the past thirty years and with up-to-date capabilities. In response to a request from Congress, the USGS released a report in 2002 entitled, Concepts for National Assessment of Water Availability and Use, Circular 1223. The circular outlines a broad framework by which a national estimation could take place and advocates using 21 water availability in the United StatesWater Resources Regions for the study units.

In 2005, USGS embarked on a pilot study of water availability in the Great Lakes Basin. The pilot focuses on accepting the dynamics of the water resources in the basin in terms of the flows and yields of both ground and surface water and demonstrates the importance of water-use data to quantifying water availability.