Summary of water-resources activities of the U.S. Geological Survey in Oregon: Fiscal year 1989

Abstract

, in order to answer the need for a permanent government agency at the Federal level to conduct, on a continuing, systematic, and scientific basis, investigations of the "geological structure, mineral resources, and products of the national domain." Although a number of laws and executive orders have expanded and modified the scope of the Survey's responsibilities during its 110-year history, the Survey has remained principally a scientific and technical investigation agency, as contrasted with a developmental or regulatory one. Today the Survey is mandated to assess onshore and offshore energy and mineral resources; to provide information for society to mitigate the impact of floods, earthquakes, landslides, volcanoes, and droughts; to monitor the Nation's ground-and surface-water supplies; to study the impact of man on the Nation's water resources; and to provide mapped information on the Nation's landscape and land use. The Survey is the principal source of scientific and technical expertise in the earth sciences within the Department of the Interior and the Federal Government. The Survey's activities span a wide range of earth-science research and services in the fields of geology, hydrology, and cartography, and represent the continuing pursuit of the long-standing scientific missions of the Survey. l