The National Water & Climate Center website delivers snow and water data that is updated on a daily, even hourly basis. The Center website will be moved to a new web content management system used by NRCS in 2013. In the meantime, please visit the current National Water & Climate Center website.
Overview of the National Water and Climate Center
Our Mission is "To lead the development and transfer of water and climate information and technology which support natural resource conservation."
With a Vision of the future as "A globally recognized source for a top quality spatial snow, water, climate, and hydrologic network of information and technology."
The Functions of the National Water and Climate Center are:
Natural Resource Planning Support
Assess the effectiveness of applied technology and support activities in relation to meeting customer needs
Provide water supply forecasts
Provide water and climate analysis, information, and services for NRCS, partners and customers
Provide concepts and technical input for policy development and the legislative process
Provide emergency support to customers in response to extreme natural resource events
Provide water quality and quantity expertise in support of farmstead, field level, watershed, and river basin evaluations
Data Acquisition and Management
Operate the Snowpack Telemetry (SNOTEL) data collection system for the United States and Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN)
Acquire, enhance, and manage specific data sets to support the resource planning for all resource areas including Soil, Water, Air, Plants, Animals and Human
Design and manage an on-line, quality controlled, national database for NRCS and partners in support of farm, watershed and river basin scale planning
Coordinate with other entities to develop procedures for integration of information from plant, animal, soil, water quality, and pesticide databases
Technology Innovation
Identify and anticipate priority needs to support the Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) and customer requirements
Assess and select technologies required to address resource concerns
Adapt appropriate technologies
Facilitate new technology development
Maintain inventory of available and developing technologies
Partnerships and Joint Ventures
Cooperatively fund and develop new technology
Establish and maintain joint strategic databases
Share existing technology to meet user needs
Develop cooperative support for technology transfer and implementation
Partner with NRCS offices and other organizations for natural resource planning support
Evaluate feedback from partners to improve effectiveness
Technology Transfer
Release new technology through means appropriate to customer needs
Assist in training related to technological releases
Market and promote new technology
Provide expertise to support new technology
Ensure that technology transfer meets customer needs and expectations