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USGS Programs

• Biological Informatics Program
  The mission of the Biological Informatics Program is to create the informatics framework, provide the scientific content, and develop the public and private partnerships needed for the understanding and stewardship of our Nation's biological resources. The Biological Informatics Program provides credible, applicable, unbiased information for science-based decision-making, particularly as it pertains to the conservation, management, and use of the Nation's biological resources.
• Carbon Sequestration
  Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are working to assess both the potential capacities and the potential limitations of the various forms of carbon sequestration and to evaluate their geologic, hydrologic, and ecological consequences. In accordance with the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the USGS has developed scientifically based methods for assessment of biologic and geologic carbon sequestration.
• Climate Change Research and Development
  The USGS Global Change Research and Development Program supports fundamental scientific research to: 1) understand processes controlling Earth system responses to global change over broad temporal and spatial scales; and 2) understand and model impacts of climate and land-cover change on ecosystems and other natural resources.
• Climate Change Science Applications and Decision Support
  The USGS integrates climate- and environmental-change datasets with conceptual and digital models across disciplines including remote sensing, geography, geology, biology, and hydrology to better understand impacts to natural resources, agriculture, and human populations on decadal and regional time scales, local to global spatial scales, and weather to climate process scales.
• Climate Effects Network (CEN)
  The Climate Effects Network (CEN) is a consortium of observation and research programs that collect, share, and use data, models, and related information to assess climate impacts on ecosystems, resources, and society. CEN provides network coordination, data management, enhanced funding for existing monitoring programs, and new data collection to create a national scientific capacity that is "greater than the sum of the parts."
• Coastal and Marine Geology Program (CMGP)
  The Coastal and Marine Geology Program conducts research on changes in the coastal and marine environment, whether naturally occurring or human induced. Changes in this environment can endanger our quality of life, threaten property, pose risk to fragile environments, and affect livelihoods. The management challenge faced by all coastal communities is to balance the competing needs of citizens, government, industry, and the environment. Sound marine science is critical for making such management decisions
• Contaminant Biology Program
  The USGS Contaminant Biology Program investigates the effects and exposure of environmental contaminants to the Nation's living resources, particularly those under the stewardship of the Department of the Interior
• Cooperative Research Units - Biology (CRU)
  The Cooperative Research Unit program was established in 1935 to enhance graduate education in fisheries and wildlife sciences and to facilitate research between natural resource agencies and universities on topics of mutual concern. Today, there are 40 Cooperative Research Units in 38 states. Each unit is a partnership among the U.S. Geological Survey, a State natural resource agency, a host university, and the Wildlife Management Institute.
• Cooperative Water Program (Coop)
  Provide reliable, impartial, and timely information needed to understand the Nation's water resources through a program of shared efforts and funding with State, Tribal, and local partners to enable decision makers to wisely manage the Nation's water resources.
• Core Science Informatics
  Core Science Informatics (CSI) coordinates and develops data integration services, capacity, and framework for Bureau science programs. Incorporating the Community for Data Integration and the Powell Center, CSI supports identification and development of best practices and standards to ensure efficiencies and innovation. Through a network of data consultants, CSI works with USGS science programs, partners, and industry to create new paradigms for accessing, integrating, visualizing, and delivering USGS data and information.
• Earth Surface Dynamics (ESD)
  Focuses on documenting, analyzing, and modeling the character of past and present environments and the geological, biological, hydrological, and geochemical processes involved in environmental change so that future environmental changes and impacts can be anticipated.
• Earthquake Hazards Program (EHP)
  The Earthquake Hazards Program is part of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) led by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The USGS role in NEHRP is to provide Earth sciences information and products for earthquake loss reduction. The goals of the USGS' EHP are: improve earthquake hazard identification and risk assessment methods and their use; maintain and improve comprehensive earthquake monitoring in the United States with focus on "real-time" systems in urban areas; and improve the understanding of earthquakes occurrence and their effects and consequences.
• Energy Resources Program (ERP)
  The mission of the USGS Energy Resources Program is to understand the processes critical to the formation, accumulation, occurrence, and alteration of geologically based energy resources; to conduct scientifically robust assessments of those resources; and to study the impact of energy resource occurrence and/or production and use on both environmental and human health.
• Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC)
  The Federal Geographic Data Committee is an interagency committee that promotes the coordinated development, use, sharing, and dissemination of geospatial data on a national basis. This nationwide data publishing effort is known as the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). The NSDI is a physical, organizational, and virtual network designed to enable the development and sharing of this nation's digital geographic information resources. FGDC activities are administered through the FGDC Secretariat, hosted by the U.S. Geological Survey.
• Fisheries: Aquatic and Endangered Resources Program (FAER)
  The Fisheries: Aquatic and Endangered Resources Program (FAER) focuses on the study of aquatic organisms and aquatic habitats from the molecular genetic level to species and population interactions with the environment. Aquatic pathogens, invertebrates, mussels, fishes, and the unique role of aquatic communities in ecosystems are investigated to provide scientific information to natural resource managers and decision makers.
• Geomagnetism
  The mission of the Geomagnetism Program is to monitor the Earth’s magnetic field. Using ground-based observatories, the Program provides continuous records of magnetic field variations covering long timescales; disseminates magnetic data to various governmental, academic, and private institutions; and conducts research into the nature of geomagnetic variations for purposes of scientific understanding and hazard mitigation.
• Geographic Analysis and Monitoring (GAM)
  The goal of the USGS Geographic Analysis and Monitoring (GAM) Program is to understand the patterns, processes, and consequences of changes in land use, land condition, and land cover at multiple spatial and temporal scales, resulting from the interactions between human activities and natural systems.
• Global Seismographic Network (GSN)
  The Global Seismographic Network (GSN) is a permanent digital network of state-of-the-art seismological and geophysical sensors connected by a telecommunications network, serving as a multi-use scientific facility and societal resource for monitoring, research, and education. Formed in partnership among the USGS, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS), the GSN provides near-uniform, worldwide monitoring of the Earth, with over 150 modern seismic stations distributed globally. GSN stations are operated by the USGS Albuquerque Seismological Laboratory, the IDA group at UC San Diego, and other affiliate organizations.
• Groundwater Resources Program (GWRP)
  Provides objective scientific information and develop interdisciplinary understanding necessary to help assure the availability of the Nation's groundwater resources.
• Hydrologic Networks and Analysis
  Supports stations documenting the long-term flow characteristics and trends on climatic and other natural variations; monitoring or documenting Supreme Court Decrees and river basin compacts to which the U.S. government is a signatory; acts as part of the flood-forecasting network of the National Weather Service (NWS) and support the mission of other bureaus of the Department of Interior or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
• Hydrologic Research and Development (HRD)
• International Programs
• Invasive Species Program
  The Invasive Species Program provides methodologies and information to address threats to ecological systems and native species due to the introduction and spread of invasive species.
• Land Remote Sensing (LRS)
  The Land Remote Sensing Program operates the Landsat satellites and provides the Nation's portal to the largest archive of remotely sensed land data in the world, supplying access to current and historical images. These images serve many purposes from assessing the impact of natural disasters to monitoring global agricultural production.
• Landslide Hazards Program (LHP)
  The mission of the Landslide Hazards Programis to provide information that leads to the reduction of losses from landslides and increase in public safety through improved understanding of landslide hazards and strategies for hazard mitigation. In pursuit of the program mission, the LHP conducts landslide hazard assessments, pursues landslide investigations and forecasts, provides technical assistance to respond to landslide emergencies, and engages in outreach activities.
• Libraries
  The USGS Library program supports all of the fundamental scientific research conducted within the USGS. The library serves both internal and external users with comprehensive access to the literature, data, and information necessary to understand the mission areas of the USGS and make critical decisions about how to proceed with research initiatives and investigations in the earth and natural sciences.
• Mineral Resources Program (MRP)
  The USGS Mineral Resources Program (MRP) provides scientific information for objective resource assessments and unbiased research results on mineral potential, production, consumption, and environmental effects. The MRP is the sole Federal source for this information.
• National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center
  The National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center (NCCWSC) responds to the research and management needs of partners and provides science and technical support regarding the impacts of climate change on fish, wildlife and ecological process. The Center is taking the lead on establishing the Department of the Interior regional Climate Science Centers.
  
• National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP)
  The National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP) produces accurate geologic maps and 3-D geologic frameworks that provide critical data for sustaining and improving the quality of life and economic vitality of the Nation. Geologic maps are indispensable to understanding earth surface processes and ground-water availability and quality, supporting DOI land management decisions, mitigating hazards, assisting in ecological and climatic monitoring and modeling, and understanding onshore-offshore sediment processes. NCGMP is unique in the Federal Government as it supports the production of most geologic maps in the United States through a successful Federal-State-university partnership.
• National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation
  The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58 , Sec. 351) established the National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program in the USGS and outlined the following goals:
  • Archive geological, geophysical, and engineering data, maps, well logs, and samples
  • Provide a national catalog of archived materials
  • Provide technical and financial assistance to State geological surveys and relevant Department of the Interior bureaus for archived materials
• National Geospatial Program
  The National Geospatial Program (NGP) organizes, maintains, and publishes the geospatial baseline of the Nation’s topography, natural landscape, and built environment.  The baseline is The National Map, a set of databases of map data and information from which customers can download data and derived map products and use web-based map services.  Through the Geospatial Liaison Network, the NGP works with cooperators to share the costs of acquiring and maintaining these geospatial data. The National Atlas of the United States of America®, the small-scale component of The National Map, fosters an understanding of broad geographic patterns, trends, and conditions useful for national assessments. The Federal Geographic Data Committee promotes consistent data and metadata standards, system interoperability, and cross-government best business practices for geospatial resources, policies, standards, and technology as part of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure.
• National Streamflow Information Program (NSIP)
  With over 7,300 streamgages, the National Streamflow Information Program provides the Nation with streamflow information to help protect life and property and manage our water resources.
• National Stream Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN)
  Focuses on the water quality of four of the Nation's largest river systems—the Mississippi (including the Missouri and Ohio), the Columbia, the Colorado, and the Rio Grande.
• National Water Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA)
  Provides an understanding of water-quality conditions and how those conditions may vary locally, regionally, and nationally; whether conditions are getting better or worse over time; and how natural features and human activities affect those conditions.
• National Water-Use Program
  Examines the withdrawal, use, and return flow of water on local, State, and national levels.
• Priority Ecosystems Science (PES)
  Provides science in support of adaptive management of ecosystems that have near-term societal concern and significant long-term societal value.
• Science Impact
• State Water Resources Research Institute Program (WRRI)
• Status and Trends of Biological Resources Program
  The Status and Trends of Biological Resources Program monitors, analyzes and reports on the status and trends Nation’s living resources and the habitats on which they depend.  To protect and conserve these resources entrusted to their care, land and resource managers must first understand the condition of and threats to those resources.
• Terrestrial, Freshwater, and Marine Ecosystems Program
  Studies conducted by USGS Terrestrial, Freshwater, and Marine Ecosystems scientists provide the basic science needed to understand the factors that control ecosystem structure, function, dynamics, condition, and provision of goods and services in context of linkages and interactions with the surrounding landscape.  This information is used to model and predict future changes to ecosystems, how external stressors such as land use change and climate change will affect ecosystem resiliency, and to develop management alternatives in the face of stressors.  Ecosystem science is also used to restore degraded landscapes and freshwater systems, sustain plants and animals, and find means to adapt management to global change.
• Toxic Substances Hydrology Program
  The USGS Toxic Substances Hydrology Program provides objective scientific information on environmental contamination to improve characterization and management of contaminated sites, to protect human and environmental health, and to reduce potential future contamination problems.
• Volcano Hazards Program (VHP)
  The overall objectives of the Volcano Hazards Program are to advance the scientific understanding of volcanic processes and to lessen the harmful impacts of volcanic activity. The Volcano Hazards Program monitors active and potentially active volcanoes, assesses their hazards, responds to volcanic crises, and conducts research on how volcanoes work. The Program issues "timely warnings" of potential volcanic hazards to responsible emergency-management authorities and to the populace affected. Thus, in addition to obtaining the best possible scientific information, the program works to effectively communicate its scientific findings to authorities and the public in an appropriate and understandable form.
• Wildlife: Terrestrial and Endangered Resources
  USGS scientists supported by the Wildlife Program conduct research on diverse natural resource topics involving wildlife and their habitat, marine mammals, threatened and endangered species, pollinators and  plants; research includes, for example wildlife disease, genetics, basic life history and changing landscapes. Scientists provide technical support and tools for applications like structured decision making.

Eric Evenson (co-chair); Randy Orndorff (co-chair); Charles Blome; Victoria Langenheim; Gregory McCabe; Scott Morlock; Howard Reeves; Jim Verdin; Holly Sarvis Weyers; Tamara Wood; John Karl Böhlke