Arizona Water Science Center
ABOUT THE Arizona WSCUSGS IN YOUR STATEUSGS Water Science Centers are located in each state. |
About the Arizona Water Science CenterThe Arizona Water Science Center (WSC) is one of 48 Water Science Centers in the Water Resources Discipline of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The Water Science Center's mission is to collect, analyze and disseminate the impartial hydrologic data and information needed to wisely manage water resources for the people of the United States and the State of Arizona. Contact information for the main Arizona WSC office: Arizona Water Science Center Office InformationWhat We Do
To assure that our work is relevant and useful, we form partnerships with Federal, State, and local agencies, and other public organizations. Funding for the Arizona Water Science Center comes from a variety of sources, including direct Federal appropriations, other Federal agencies, and a cooperative program that allows the Arizona Water Science Center to partially match funding with state and local agencies. Information concerning USGS products and services can be obtained from: The Arizona WSC home page provides direct access to current and historical USGS streamflow data, a bibliography of Arizona Water Science Center reports, and much more about USGS operations in the state of Arizona. Data CollectionBasic hydrologic data collection, processing, analysis, dissemination, and archiving are major parts of the Arizona Water Science Center program. Streamflow data, for example, are used for flood and water-supply forecasts, planning and design, river regulation, streamflow statistics, and research investigations. Much of the data are available on a near-real-time basis by satellite telemetry. Types of data currently collected include:
Database CapabilitiesUSGS data are stored and maintained in long-term, quality-assured data bases. The data bases contain data for Arizona and the rest of the nation and are accessible to the public. The data include:
ProjectsThe chief purpose of hydrologic projects is to help cooperating agencies solve water problems. For example, investigative results have been used to manage storm-water runoff, to develop ground-water management plans, and to identify areas of water-quality degradation. These investigations often use quantitative numerical models and address many water issues including:
Analytical TechniquesThe Arizona Water Science Center uses state-of-the-art as well as traditional methods that include quality assurance and quality control:
Water-quality samples are collected and analyzed for a wide range of constituents, including major inorganics, nutrients, trace elements, dissolved gases, pesticides, isotopes, organic solvents, petrochemicals, and biological indicators. |