United States Geological Survey
On the 3rd of March 1879, Congress authorized a new federal agency to study the landscape of the United States. This legislation emerged from a report by the National Academy of Sciences regarding vast lands acquired through the Louisiana Purchase and the Mexican, American War. The bill charged the agency with classifying public lands and examining geological structures and mineral resources. Clarence King became the first director of this newly formed organization. He assembled the USGS from disparate regional survey agencies that had existed in various states since the mid-1800s. After two years of leadership, King was succeeded by John Wesley Powell. The original surveys led by Hayden, Powell, and Wheeler were discontinued on the 30th of June 1879, as part of the same legislative act.
The agency maintains its headquarters in Reston, Virginia, while operating major offices near Lakewood, Colorado, at the Denver Federal Center, and within NASA Research Park in California. In 2009, the workforce numbered approximately 8,670 people. Since 2012, scientific focus has been directed toward topical Mission Areas that continue to evolve over time. The regional organization aligns with the U.S. Department of the Interior Unified Interior Regions. Region 1 covers the North Atlantic-Appalachian area while Region 2 handles the South Atlantic-Gulf zone. Region 3 manages the Great Lakes basin and Region 4 oversees the Mississippi Basin. Region 5 focuses on the Missouri Basin and Region 6 addresses Arkansas-Rio Grande-Texas-Gulf areas. Region 7 operates within the Upper Colorado Basin and Region 8 serves the Lower Colorado Basin. Region 9 covers Columbia-Pacific Northwest and Region 10 handles California-Great Basin matters. Region 11 is dedicated to Alaska and Region 12 manages Pacific Islands affairs. The current motto since August 1997 reads science for a changing world.
The National Earthquake Information Center sits in Golden, Colorado, on the campus of the Colorado School of Mines. This facility detects the location and magnitude of global earthquakes every day. The USGS runs or supports several regional monitoring networks under the Advanced National Seismic System umbrella. Authorities, emergency responders, media outlets, and the public receive information about significant earthquakes both domestically and worldwide. Long-term archives of earthquake data support scientific and engineering research efforts. The agency conducts and supports research on long-term seismic hazards across the nation. In 2009, the organization released the UCERF California earthquake forecast. ShakeMaps serve as an interactive tool allowing users to visually observe shaking distribution and severity from recent events. Researchers investigated collaboration with Twitter to enable faster construction of these ShakeMap products during the early 2010s.
Five volcano observatories operate throughout the United States to monitor volcanic activity. The Alaska Volcano Observatory covers volcanoes in Alaska and the Northern Mariana Islands from Anchorage, Alaska. The California Volcano Observatory operates out of Menlo Park, California. The Cascades Volcano Observatory serves Idaho, Oregon, and Washington from Vancouver, Washington. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitors Hawaii and American Samoa based in Hilo, Hawaii. The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory covers Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming within Yellowstone National Park. These facilities work to create a National Volcano Early Warning System by improving instrumentation monitoring 169 volcanoes in U.S. territory. The Volcano Disaster Assistance Program helps developing countries experiencing eruptions through response, capacity building, training, and research. This program is based out of the Cascades Volcano Observatory and assists nations facing volcanic threats globally.
Nearly 57,000 individual maps cover the 48 contiguous states, Hawaii, U.S. territories, and areas near Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Prudhoe Bay. Each map covers an area bounded by two lines of latitude and two lines of longitude spaced 7.5 minutes apart. At lower latitudes near 30° north, a quadrangle contains about 64 square miles while at 49° north it holds roughly 25 square miles. The last USGS paper topographic maps were published in 2006 before being replaced by The National Map in 2019. In 2008, the agency abandoned traditional surveying methods based on aerial photography and field checks. From June 2009 to May 2011, the USGS produced nearly 40,000 digital maps averaging more than 80 per work day. Only about two hours of interactive work occur on each new map with no field inspections to confirm details. Human-made features like windmills, mineshafts, fence lines, railroads, and power transmission lines frequently appear omitted from these newest digital products.
The streamgauging network for the United States includes over 7400 stream gauges providing real-time data online. Real-time streamflow information is available through the National Streamflow Information Program database. Water quality assessment occurs via the National Water-Quality Assessment Program with publicly available data from the National Water Information System. The Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility has four sections including Field Services, Testing, Information Technology, and Administrative units. This facility provides national responsibility for designing, testing, evaluating, repairing, calibrating, warehousing, and distributing hydrologic instrumentation. The Hydraulic Laboratory contains a towing tank, jet tank, pipe flow facility, and tilting flume for equipment testing. The Engineering Group seeks new technology designs that work more efficiently or cost less than existing instruments. Sometimes HIF patents new designs hoping vendors will buy rights to mass-produce them at lower costs for everyone.
The National Wildlife Health Center serves the nation by providing sound science and technical support for wildlife and ecosystem health decisions. It disseminates information to promote science-based decisions affecting wildlife and ecosystem health across the country. The center provides information, technical assistance, research, education, and leadership on national and international wildlife health issues. USGS operates 17 biological research centers in the United States including the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. The agency remains primarily responsible for surveillance of H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks within U.S. borders. Climate Adaptation Science Centers team scientific researchers with natural and cultural resource managers to help fish, wildlife, waters, and lands adapt to climate change. Nine regional CASCs deliver science addressing resource management priorities of states within their geographic footprints.
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Common questions
When was the United States Geological Survey authorized by Congress?
Congress authorized the United States Geological Survey on the 3rd of March 1879. This legislation emerged from a report by the National Academy of Sciences regarding vast lands acquired through the Louisiana Purchase and the Mexican American War.
Where is the headquarters of the United States Geological Survey located today?
The agency maintains its headquarters in Reston, Virginia. It also operates major offices near Lakewood, Colorado, at the Denver Federal Center, and within NASA Research Park in California.
Who became the first director of the United States Geological Survey after its formation?
Clarence King became the first director of this newly formed organization. He assembled the USGS from disparate regional survey agencies that had existed in various states since the mid-1800s.
How many stream gauges are included in the United States Geological Survey streamgauging network?
The streamgauging network for the United States includes over 7400 stream gauges providing real-time data online. Real-time streamflow information is available through the National Streamflow Information Program database.
Which five volcano observatories operate throughout the United States under the United States Geological Survey?
Five volcano observatories operate throughout the United States to monitor volcanic activity including the Alaska Volcano Observatory, the California Volcano Observatory, the Cascades Volcano Observatory, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, and the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.