New & Noteworthy

Press Release: Study Explores Groundwater and Geothermal Energy in Drought-Stricken Eastern Oregon and Neighboring States

Technical Announcement: USGS Issues Revised Framework for Hydrogeology of Floridan Aquifer

Press Release: High Plains Aquifer Groundwater Levels Continue to Decline

Regional Groundwater Availability Study Geospatial Data

Press Release: USGS Assesses Current Groundwater-Quality Conditions in the Williston Basin Oil Production Area

Past listings...

USGS Groundwater Watch

USGS maintains a network of active wells to provide basic statistics about groundwater levels.

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USGS Regional Groundwater Studies > Selected Overview Publications

Selected Overview Publications

The following publications provide background and overview information on the importance of USGS regional groundwater studies and related water-resources issues:

Ground-Water Availability in the United States (Circular 1323)

This report examines what is known about the Nation's groundwater availability and outlines a program of study by the USGS Groundwater Resources Program to improve our understanding of groundwater availability in major aquifers across the Nation. (2008)

Water Budgets: Foundations for Effective Water-Resources and Environmental Management (Circular 1308)

Water budgets provide a means for evaluating the availability and sustainability of a water supply. (2007)

Facing Tomorrow's Challenges -- U.S. Geological Survey Science in the Decade 2007-2017 (Circular 1309)

A water census of the United States is one of six priority science directions for the USGS. (2007)

A Strategy for Federal Science and Technology to Support Water Availability and Quality in the United States [PDF]

This report by the National Science and Technology Council - Committee On Environment and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water Availability and Quality identifies implementation of a National Water Census as one of seven strategic elements to address water challenges facing the Nation. (2007)

Report to Congress: Concepts for National Assessment of Water Availability and Use (Circular 1223)

This USGS report describes the scope and magnitude of efforts needed to provide periodic assessments of the status and trends in availability and use of fresh-water resource. (2002)

Ground-water-level monitoring and the importance of long-term water-level data (Circular 1217)

Measurements of water levels in wells provide the most fundamental indicator of the status of this resource and are critical to meaningful evaluations of the quantity and quality of groundwater and its interaction with surface water. (2001)

Additional Resources

For more overview and national groundwater reports and publications, refer to our selected bibliography of USGS groundwater publications. A complete bibliography of GWRP-supported publications is also available.