Assessing water conditions..instantaneously. (National Aquatics Branch).

The U.S. Geological Survey has unveiled its new WaterWatch Web site, which gives visitors an instantaneous picture of water conditions nationwide in near-real time. Through the use of USGS WaterWatch maps, the entire nation's current streamflow conditions, including high flood-flows and low drought-flows, are depicted on maps with color-coded dots that represent conditions at about 3,000 streamgages.

"We're making our data easier to find and easier to use than ever, all with the click of a mouse," says Robert Hirsch, USGS Associate Director for Water. "With our near-real time data on a map, even a new visitor to our Web site can quickly see water conditions nationally, and then with two clicks, find out about water conditions in his or her hometown."

USGS has provided real-time streamflow and historical streamflow data on the Web for several years. WaterWatch marks the first time it's been combined with a geospatial or map-based front end. Users can also access many other types of water data, including historical water-quality data from rivers and aquifers, historical ground-water level data and real-time water quality, precipitation, and ground-water levels. These data can help water managers, engineers, scientists, emergency managers, recreational water users, utilities, etc. to evaluate current water supplies and plan for future supplies; forecast floods and droughts; evaluate and control water quality; navigate rivers and streams; and determine conditions to safely fish, canoe, kayak, or raft.

The WaterWatch site is available at http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/.