The U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS) Water Resources Mission Area has established new interrelated strategic priorities to guide its work over the coming years to help the Nation address growing challenges to its water supply, infrastructure, and aquatic ecosystems. This WestFAST-hosted webinar introduced attendees to three new USGS Priority Programs: (1) Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS): Establishment of an integrated set of fixed and mobile assets – in the water, on the ground and in the air – that will collect and deliver data that can help address water resource challenges and decision making needs of the future; (2) The Integrated Water Prediction (IWP) Program: Enhancement of existing tools and development of new capacity to produce model predictions supporting forecast-based management of water supplies and infrastructure; and (3) The Integrated Water Availability Assessments (IWAAs) Program: Integrated assessment of water availability in terms of the spatial and temporal distribution of water quantity and quality in both surface and groundwater, as related to human and ecosystem needs and as affected by human and natural influences. The briefing includes an update on the recent selection of the “Headwaters of the Colorado/Gunnison River” Basins for future NGWOS implementation.
