USGS Frequently Asked Questions
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Question:
If you are the U.S. Geological Survey, why do you study water and not rocks?
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Answer: When the U.S. Geological Survey was first established in 1879, the main purpose was to map and study the land and its resources; in other words, to geologically survey the United States. The role of the USGS has grown along with the changing needs of the country, and the USGS has diversified to include not only a Geologic Discipline and a Geography Discipline, but also a Water Resources Discipline and a Biologic Resources Discipline. Of course there is some overlap among the disciplines, which is why we all work together and are collectively known as the U.S. Geological Survey. Perhaps a more appropriate name would be "U.S. Earth Survey," however, the traditional name has remained throughout all reorganizations because of the USGS reputation for providing unbiased earth-science information. The USGS motto more accurately states our mission: Science for a changing world.
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Source of this FAQ:
http://ut.water.usgs.gov/faq/faq.html
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U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey