1. USGS Mission Linking Science to Decisions
Environmental Health
The USGS serves the Nation by providing reliable scientific information to:
describe and understand the Earth.
minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters.
manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources.
enhance and protect our quality of life.
Core Science Systems
Water
Natural Hazards
Ecosystems
Energy and Minerals
USGS Mission
For 137 years, USGS has provided
○ policy makers
○ decision makers
○ as well as the general citizenry with
scientific information that is relevant, timely, usable, easily accessible and integrated in order to help inform decisions that affect the health, safety and prosperity of the Nation.
○ Partnership with more than 2,000 organizations at
all levels of government, including tribal
non-government organizations
and academia
○ to work on projects addressing issues that directly affect communities.
Through these projects policy makers learn about the Nation's key issues
while communities get the science they need for decision making.
Because we do not manage any land or resources nor have regulatory responsibility.
○ Our science is non-advocacy and largely non-controversial.
We produce tools and resources policy and decisionmakers need to address pressing natural resource issues.
We have the objective science decision makers will need to address the national and global issues this Administration faces, including:
○ investing in the Nation's infrastructure
○ responsible energy development
○ water quality and availability
○ natural hazards
○ land use, and
○ biological threats
Climate & Land Use Change

2. USGS Geographic Office Locations
More than 8,000 employees in 400 locations with 65 science centers nationwide. USGS is located in every state.
We have a water science center presence in every state, 17 ecosystem-focused centers largely housed in owned facilities around the country, large concentrations of employees in Reston, Denver, Menlo/Sacramento, Flagstaff, the integrated center in Anchorage, and EROS in Sioux Falls.
Note: Some Water Science Centers are consolidating.

3. U.S. Department of the Interior