U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey

A National Water CensusA National Water CensusYou Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure…You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure…

You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure…

Water is critical to sustain and support: Water is critical to sustain and support: • Life• Ecosystems• Economy

• Life• Ecosystems• Economy

You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure…

You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure…

How much water do we have in the U.S?Is the amount changing over time? How much water do we have in the U.S?Is the amount changing over time?

You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure…

What is a water census? What is a water census?

You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure…

Account for water with a “budget”Account for water with a “budget”

You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure…

• Precipitation

• Evapotranspiration

• Storage in Reservoirs, Lakes, Snow and Ice

• River Flow

• Groundwater

– Recharge rates

– Water level in aquifers

• Ecological Needs

• Water Withdrawals

• Return Flows

• Consumptive Uses

• Run-of-the-River Uses

A Nationwide System to deliver water availability informationA Nationwide System to deliver water availability information

You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure…

Envision a seamless coverage of information for each componentEnvision a seamless coverage of information for each component

You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure…

Surface Storage

Recharge

Evapotranspiration

Baseflow

Runoff

USGS will provide this for all componentsUSGS will provide this for all components

Precipitation

You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure…

Can our water sustain important habitats? Can our water sustain important habitats? A water census will allow managers to balance healthy habitats and human water useA water census will allow managers to balance healthy habitats and human water use

You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure…

Can freshwater supplies meet long-term needs? Can freshwater supplies meet long-term needs?

A water census will identify how much water is available for renewable energy development.

You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure…

Enhancing the Nation’s Water Use Information

Enhancing the Nation’s Water Use Information

You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure…

Why Now? Why Now?

Competition is increasing, climate is changing, water in storage is declining

You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure…

What will a Census provide us? What will a Census provide us?

It will provide State, local and Regional water professionals theInformation they need to plan for and allocate water resources.

You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure…

Are we making progress on the Water Census? Are we making progress on the Water Census?