Wisconsin Water Science Center Overview - MISSION
The U.S. Geological Survey was established
by an act of Congress on March 3, 1879, to provide a
permanent Federal agency to conduct the systematic and
scientific `classification of the public lands, and
examination of the geological structure, mineral resources,
and products of national domain.' An integral part of
that original mission includes publishing and disseminating
the earth-science information needed to understand,
to plan the use of, and to manage the Nation's energy,
land, mineral, and water resources.
Since 1879, the research and fact-finding
role of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has grown
and has been modified to meet the changing needs of
the Nation it serves. As part of the evolution, the
USGS has become the Federal Government's largest earth-science
research agency, the Nation's largest civilian map-making
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 in the
Nation. Today's programs serve a diversity of needs
and users. Programs include:
- Conducting detailed assessments of
the energy and mineral potential of 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 land and offshore areas.
- Studying the geologic features, structure,
processes, and history of the other planets of our
solar system.
- Conducting topographic surveys 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
water and ground water.
- Conducting water-resource appraisals
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 USGS 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.' |
