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Hydrologic Hazards Science at the U.S. Geological Survey (1999) / Chapter Skim
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6 Conclusions and Recommendations
Pages 63-69

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From page 63...
... programs in hydrologic hazards are necessarily interdisciplinary and offer many opportunities for collaborative work between personnel of the Water Resources Division, Geologic Division, Biological Resources Division, and National Mapping Division, as well as with outside cooperators and colleagues at the National Weather Service, the U
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From page 64...
... . Such agencies require reliable real-time datasets and statistical distributions (current water levels, stream rating curves)
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From page 65...
... The USGS stream gaging network is a unique and irreplaceable source of primary data supporting planning, research, and management for hydrologic hazards. It is of critical national importance that this source of consistent and reliable hydrologic data be maintained, both as the foundation for other hydrologic activity conducted by USGS and as the basis for planning and operations carried out by countless other public and private entities.
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From page 66...
... · Investigations of long-term stationarity offloads and droughts. Current frequency estimation methods usually assume that flood peak heights, discharges, and recurrence intervals follow statistical distributions that do not change with time.
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From page 67...
... These data functions continue to be a critical part of the hydrologic hazards program and must be maintained. The recent integration of the Biological Resources Division into the USGS provides a new opportunity to improve the integration of water resources data with biological and ecological data.
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From page 68...
... In response, the emphasis of the USGS mission to provide the nation with reliable and impartial information to reduce loss of life and property and to preserve resources has shifted from a more passive role of study and analysis to one that actively seeks to convey information in a way that is responsive to the social, political, and economic needs of particular communities. It is critical that the USGS maintain and develop liaisons with outreach specialists in other federal agencies, federal and state extension programs, universities, state and local units of government, commercial organizations, and citizen interest groups.
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From page 69...
... To put it another way, outreach should help decision makers avoid being "surprised." · The USGS is progressive in its use of the Internet for the presentation of real-time and historical data. These programs are impressive, and the agency should continue to expand these efforts as well as add interpretations to its hydrologic data.
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Key Terms

  • water resources
  • resources division
  • resources data
  • hydrologic events
  • extreme hydrologic

  • national weather
  • usgs scientists
  • gaging network
  • help decision
  • stream gaging

  • flood forecasting
  • biological resources
  • weather service
  • hazards program
  • usually requires

  • raw data
  • water levels
  • hydrologic data
  • statistical distributions
  • extreme events

  • hydrologic information
  • usgs mission
  • rating curves
  • current frequency
  • understanding hydrologic

  • multiple products
  • activity conducted
  • lowflow duration
  • terrestrial hydrology
  • outreach specialists


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