Water is vital to our Nation and the U.S. Geological Survey plays an important role in the tracking and mapping our water resources. The National Hydrography Dataset component of The National Map supports this mission and is widely used in the study of hydrology, natural resources, and pollution control.
Mapping the Water Around Us
Mapping Water
Water is vital to our Nation and the U.S. Geological Survey plays an important role in tracking and mapping our water resources. The resources presented below discuss different aspects of mapping our nation's water.
The Benefits of 3D Hydrography
Surveying for flood insurance rate maps
Landsat Water Atlas
From Data to Maps
What was your favorite childhood activity? Perhaps playing with or in water?
Though we often take water for granted, it is in fact a precious resource. Water is at the very heart of our existence.
USGS scientists are developing and improving mapping tools to understand water flow and be able to predict future change by monitoring water in different locations and times. They are also interested in areas where there is water shortages, floods, and other water-related hazards. They try to understand what the future may bring by examining the past.
To achieve the goal of predicting water volume, quality, and movement, scientists use tools to measure, analyze, and map water. They use different map types and mapping techniques. An example of this is scientists convert Landsat images to maps to use as tools to measure water use and plan for future needs. The USGS has many other mapping products to help understand water data.
Landsat Science Products
Mobile Water Data
Download Data & Maps from The National Map
What is the National Hydrography Program (3DHP)?
Surface Water Maps
Here are some tools to access USGS Surface Water maps and related data.
3D Hydrography Program
Federal Priority Streamgages (FPS) Mapper
StreamStats Application
Flood Inundation Mapper
USGS Flood Event Viewer
Mapping Coastal Change
Groundwater Maps
Here are some tools to access USGS Groundwater maps and related data.
Principal Aquifers Maps
National Groundwater Monitoring Network
U.S. Groundwater Conditions
Water Quality Maps
Here are some tools to access USGS Water Quality maps and related data.
National Real-Time Water Quality
Continuous Real-Time Water Quality of Surface Water
SPARROW Watershed Tool
Water-Quality Changes in the Nation's Streams and Rivers
Groundwater Quality: Decadal Change
Oil and Gas Water Mapping
Water Use Maps
Here are some tools to access USGS Water Use maps and related data.
U.S. Water Use from 1950-2015
Water use in the U.S., 2015
Mapping Water Use with Landsat
Examples of Mapping Water
Here are examples of projects mapping water around us.
Mapping Florida's Coastal Waters
Sea Floor Mapping Group
Delineating the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf
Water On-The-Go
Saltwater-Interface Mapping - Long Island
Mapping Sturgeon Spawning Habitat
Delineation of Water Bodies In Emergent Wetlands
Hydraulic Modeling Tool for Stream Crossing Projects in Massachusetts
Bridge Scour Countermeasures
Predicting Groundwater Quality in Unmonitored Areas
Drought Forecasting for Groundwater in Northeastern US
Publications
NHDPlus High Resolution (NHDPlus HR)---A hydrography framework for the Nation
Assessment of bridge scour countermeasures at selected bridges in the United States, 2014–18
User's guide for the national hydrography dataset plus (NHDPlus) high resolution
StreamStats, version 4
Use of the U.S. Geological Survey StreamStats Web Application for dam safety analysis
Science
New Technologies for Mapping Surface Soil Moisture Over Wildfire-Prone Landscapes
StreamStats: Streamflow Statistics and Spatial Analysis Tools for Water-Resources Applications
National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA)
Pesticides and Water Quality
USGS Flood Inundation Mapping Science
Multimedia
Water is vital to our Nation and the U.S. Geological Survey plays an important role in the tracking and mapping our water resources. The National Hydrography Dataset component of The National Map supports this mission and is widely used in the study of hydrology, natural resources, and pollution control.
NHDPlus High Resolution (NHDPlus HR)---A hydrography framework for the Nation
Assessment of bridge scour countermeasures at selected bridges in the United States, 2014–18
User's guide for the national hydrography dataset plus (NHDPlus) high resolution
StreamStats, version 4
Use of the U.S. Geological Survey StreamStats Web Application for dam safety analysis
Web services in the U.S. geological survey streamstats web application
StreamStats: A water resources web application
StreamStats: A U.S. Geological Survey Web Application for Stream Information
StreamStats: a U.S. geological survey web site for stream information
New Technologies for Mapping Surface Soil Moisture Over Wildfire-Prone Landscapes
StreamStats: Streamflow Statistics and Spatial Analysis Tools for Water-Resources Applications
National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA)
Pesticides and Water Quality
USGS Flood Inundation Mapping Science
Flood Inundation Mapping Toolbox
Emerging Flood Inundation Mapping Technologies
Flood Inundation Mapping - Loss Estimation
SPARROW: Attributes for NHDPlus Catchments (Version 1.1) for the Conterminous United States
Oil and Gas Waters Project
Flood Inundation Mapping Science
Flood Inundation Mapping (FIM) Program
National Water Dashboard (NWD)
The National Water Dashboard (NWD) is a mobile, interactive tool that provides real-time information on water levels, weather, and flood forecasts - all in one place on a computer, smartphone, or other mobile device. The NWD presents real-time stream, lake and reservoir, precipitation, and groundwater data from more than 13,500 USGS observation stations across the country.
Federal Priority Streamgages (FPS) Mapper
This mapper identifies USGS Federal Priority Streamgages (FPS). FPS are monitoring stations that track the amount of water in streams and rivers across the Nation to meet long-term federal information needs. They are strategically positioned to serve as a backbone for the larger National Streamflow Network that is operated in cooperation with over 1,200 federal, state, tribal, and local agencies.
National Water Information System (NWIS) Mapper
The National Water Information System (NWIS) Mapper provides access to over 1.5 million sites contained in the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS), including sites where current and historical surface-water, groundwater, springs, and atmospheric data has been collected. Users can search by site type, data type, site number, or place.
Flood Inundation Mapper
USGS Flood Inundation Maps, along with Internet information regarding current stage from the USGS streamgage, provide emergency management personnel and residents with information that is critical for flood-response activities, such as evacuations and road closures, as well as for post-flood recovery efforts.
Water-Quality Changes in the Nation's Streams and Rivers
This mapper provides results from the largest-ever assessment of water quality changes in the Nation's streams and rivers. More than 185 million water-quality records from over 600 Federal, State, Tribal, and local organizations were screened as part of this assessment.
StreamStats Services
U.S. Water Use from 1950-2015
How much water do we use?
In the map below, State size (area) is scaled proportionally to State freshwater use.
Water is vital to our Nation and the U.S. Geological Survey plays an important role in the tracking and mapping our water resources. The National Hydrography Dataset component of The National Map supports this mission and is widely used in the study of hydrology, natural resources, and pollution control.
Water is vital to our Nation and the U.S. Geological Survey plays an important role in the tracking and mapping our water resources. The National Hydrography Dataset component of The National Map supports this mission and is widely used in the study of hydrology, natural resources, and pollution control.
Where can I get watershed maps?
Use The National Map Viewer to display or create watershed maps with the National Watershed Boundary Dataset . Watersheds are shown as Hydrologic Units, each one with a unique Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC). Go to The National Map Viewer (it might take a minute to fully load). In the green bar above the map, click on the Layers icon, which looks like a stack of paper. Click on the box beside...
Where can I find flood maps?
FEMA is the official public source for flood maps for insurance purposes: FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center FEMA’s National Flood Hazard Layer NOAA is responsible for producing flood forecast maps that combine precipitation data with USGS streamflow data: National Weather Service - Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service River Forecasts Long-Range River Flood Risk Coastal Inundation Dashboard : Real...
Where in the Nation are droughts or very low flows occurring now? How can I see these sites on a map and get to the data?
To view the USGS streamflow information on drought, see the drought map on our WaterWatch site, which shows below-normal, 7-day average streamflow compared to historical streamflow for the United States. Links to additional maps and drought data are listed on the USGS Drought website and the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) .
What is the Ground Water Atlas of the United States?
This Ground Water Atlas of the United States is a series of USGS publications that describe the location, the extent, and the geologic and hydrologic characteristics of the important aquifers of the Nation. The series consists of 13 chapters that describe the regional groundwater resources that collectively cover 50 States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more: Principal Aquifers...
How do I download hydrography data products?
Download USGS hydrography data (datasets representing U.S. surface water for mapping and modeling applications) using The National Map Downloader or using download links that are listed at Access National Hydrography Products . Learn more: The National Map: Hydrography Training Videos National Hydrography Dataset User Guide For streamflow data, see: Where can I get real-time and historical...
Mapping Water
Water is vital to our Nation and the U.S. Geological Survey plays an important role in tracking and mapping our water resources. The resources presented below discuss different aspects of mapping our nation's water.
The Benefits of 3D Hydrography
Surveying for flood insurance rate maps
Landsat Water Atlas
From Data to Maps
What was your favorite childhood activity? Perhaps playing with or in water?
Though we often take water for granted, it is in fact a precious resource. Water is at the very heart of our existence.
USGS scientists are developing and improving mapping tools to understand water flow and be able to predict future change by monitoring water in different locations and times. They are also interested in areas where there is water shortages, floods, and other water-related hazards. They try to understand what the future may bring by examining the past.
To achieve the goal of predicting water volume, quality, and movement, scientists use tools to measure, analyze, and map water. They use different map types and mapping techniques. An example of this is scientists convert Landsat images to maps to use as tools to measure water use and plan for future needs. The USGS has many other mapping products to help understand water data.
Landsat Science Products
Mobile Water Data
Download Data & Maps from The National Map
What is the National Hydrography Program (3DHP)?
Surface Water Maps
Here are some tools to access USGS Surface Water maps and related data.
3D Hydrography Program
Federal Priority Streamgages (FPS) Mapper
StreamStats Application
Flood Inundation Mapper
USGS Flood Event Viewer
Mapping Coastal Change
Groundwater Maps
Here are some tools to access USGS Groundwater maps and related data.
Principal Aquifers Maps
National Groundwater Monitoring Network
U.S. Groundwater Conditions
Water Quality Maps
Here are some tools to access USGS Water Quality maps and related data.
National Real-Time Water Quality
Continuous Real-Time Water Quality of Surface Water
SPARROW Watershed Tool
Water-Quality Changes in the Nation's Streams and Rivers
Groundwater Quality: Decadal Change
Oil and Gas Water Mapping
Water Use Maps
Here are some tools to access USGS Water Use maps and related data.
U.S. Water Use from 1950-2015
Water use in the U.S., 2015
Mapping Water Use with Landsat
Examples of Mapping Water
Here are examples of projects mapping water around us.
Mapping Florida's Coastal Waters
Sea Floor Mapping Group
Delineating the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf
Water On-The-Go
Saltwater-Interface Mapping - Long Island
Mapping Sturgeon Spawning Habitat
Delineation of Water Bodies In Emergent Wetlands
Hydraulic Modeling Tool for Stream Crossing Projects in Massachusetts
Bridge Scour Countermeasures
Predicting Groundwater Quality in Unmonitored Areas
Drought Forecasting for Groundwater in Northeastern US
Publications
NHDPlus High Resolution (NHDPlus HR)---A hydrography framework for the Nation
Assessment of bridge scour countermeasures at selected bridges in the United States, 2014–18
User's guide for the national hydrography dataset plus (NHDPlus) high resolution
StreamStats, version 4
Use of the U.S. Geological Survey StreamStats Web Application for dam safety analysis
Science
New Technologies for Mapping Surface Soil Moisture Over Wildfire-Prone Landscapes
StreamStats: Streamflow Statistics and Spatial Analysis Tools for Water-Resources Applications
National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA)
Pesticides and Water Quality
USGS Flood Inundation Mapping Science
Multimedia
Water is vital to our Nation and the U.S. Geological Survey plays an important role in the tracking and mapping our water resources. The National Hydrography Dataset component of The National Map supports this mission and is widely used in the study of hydrology, natural resources, and pollution control.
Water is vital to our Nation and the U.S. Geological Survey plays an important role in the tracking and mapping our water resources. The National Hydrography Dataset component of The National Map supports this mission and is widely used in the study of hydrology, natural resources, and pollution control.
NHDPlus High Resolution (NHDPlus HR)---A hydrography framework for the Nation
Assessment of bridge scour countermeasures at selected bridges in the United States, 2014–18
User's guide for the national hydrography dataset plus (NHDPlus) high resolution
StreamStats, version 4
Use of the U.S. Geological Survey StreamStats Web Application for dam safety analysis
Web services in the U.S. geological survey streamstats web application
StreamStats: A water resources web application
StreamStats: A U.S. Geological Survey Web Application for Stream Information
StreamStats: a U.S. geological survey web site for stream information
New Technologies for Mapping Surface Soil Moisture Over Wildfire-Prone Landscapes
StreamStats: Streamflow Statistics and Spatial Analysis Tools for Water-Resources Applications
National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA)
Pesticides and Water Quality
USGS Flood Inundation Mapping Science
Flood Inundation Mapping Toolbox
Emerging Flood Inundation Mapping Technologies
Flood Inundation Mapping - Loss Estimation
SPARROW: Attributes for NHDPlus Catchments (Version 1.1) for the Conterminous United States
Oil and Gas Waters Project
Flood Inundation Mapping Science
Flood Inundation Mapping (FIM) Program
National Water Dashboard (NWD)
The National Water Dashboard (NWD) is a mobile, interactive tool that provides real-time information on water levels, weather, and flood forecasts - all in one place on a computer, smartphone, or other mobile device. The NWD presents real-time stream, lake and reservoir, precipitation, and groundwater data from more than 13,500 USGS observation stations across the country.
Federal Priority Streamgages (FPS) Mapper
This mapper identifies USGS Federal Priority Streamgages (FPS). FPS are monitoring stations that track the amount of water in streams and rivers across the Nation to meet long-term federal information needs. They are strategically positioned to serve as a backbone for the larger National Streamflow Network that is operated in cooperation with over 1,200 federal, state, tribal, and local agencies.
National Water Information System (NWIS) Mapper
The National Water Information System (NWIS) Mapper provides access to over 1.5 million sites contained in the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS), including sites where current and historical surface-water, groundwater, springs, and atmospheric data has been collected. Users can search by site type, data type, site number, or place.
Flood Inundation Mapper
USGS Flood Inundation Maps, along with Internet information regarding current stage from the USGS streamgage, provide emergency management personnel and residents with information that is critical for flood-response activities, such as evacuations and road closures, as well as for post-flood recovery efforts.
Water-Quality Changes in the Nation's Streams and Rivers
This mapper provides results from the largest-ever assessment of water quality changes in the Nation's streams and rivers. More than 185 million water-quality records from over 600 Federal, State, Tribal, and local organizations were screened as part of this assessment.
StreamStats Services
U.S. Water Use from 1950-2015
How much water do we use?
In the map below, State size (area) is scaled proportionally to State freshwater use.
Water is vital to our Nation and the U.S. Geological Survey plays an important role in the tracking and mapping our water resources. The National Hydrography Dataset component of The National Map supports this mission and is widely used in the study of hydrology, natural resources, and pollution control.
Water is vital to our Nation and the U.S. Geological Survey plays an important role in the tracking and mapping our water resources. The National Hydrography Dataset component of The National Map supports this mission and is widely used in the study of hydrology, natural resources, and pollution control.
Where can I get watershed maps?
Use The National Map Viewer to display or create watershed maps with the National Watershed Boundary Dataset . Watersheds are shown as Hydrologic Units, each one with a unique Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC). Go to The National Map Viewer (it might take a minute to fully load). In the green bar above the map, click on the Layers icon, which looks like a stack of paper. Click on the box beside...
Where can I find flood maps?
FEMA is the official public source for flood maps for insurance purposes: FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center FEMA’s National Flood Hazard Layer NOAA is responsible for producing flood forecast maps that combine precipitation data with USGS streamflow data: National Weather Service - Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service River Forecasts Long-Range River Flood Risk Coastal Inundation Dashboard : Real...
Where in the Nation are droughts or very low flows occurring now? How can I see these sites on a map and get to the data?
To view the USGS streamflow information on drought, see the drought map on our WaterWatch site, which shows below-normal, 7-day average streamflow compared to historical streamflow for the United States. Links to additional maps and drought data are listed on the USGS Drought website and the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) .
What is the Ground Water Atlas of the United States?
This Ground Water Atlas of the United States is a series of USGS publications that describe the location, the extent, and the geologic and hydrologic characteristics of the important aquifers of the Nation. The series consists of 13 chapters that describe the regional groundwater resources that collectively cover 50 States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more: Principal Aquifers...
How do I download hydrography data products?
Download USGS hydrography data (datasets representing U.S. surface water for mapping and modeling applications) using The National Map Downloader or using download links that are listed at Access National Hydrography Products . Learn more: The National Map: Hydrography Training Videos National Hydrography Dataset User Guide For streamflow data, see: Where can I get real-time and historical...