Water Quantity

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National Drought Atlas

• USACE.  Estimated probabilities of droughts and prolonged wet periods in terms of precipitation and streamflow for the contiguous 48 states.

• Historic Daily Streamflow
  USGS.  For over 20,000 stations.  Data can be selected by state from a  US map or by basin county, or station numbers.
• Today's Flows
  USGS.  A U.S. map with stations shown as colored dots.  Colors indicate if flows are dry, normal or wet.
• HCDN Data
  USGS.  Historic monthly streamflow data from stations with relatively long, continuous histories with little regulation.  Sorted by USGS Regions. Used for climate change studies and for the National Drought Atlas. Report on HCDN

• Great Lake Levels
  USACE.  Recorded and forecasted lake levels for the Great Lakes.
• Lakes of the World
  An international database of lake statistics and information including geographic, climate, water quality, lake use, lake health and improvements and legislature and policy for each lake.

• Weather Watch 
  University of Michigan. Offers recorded precipitation, numerous forecasts, computer models, surface maps, temperature maps and an extensive list of technical weather websites.
• World Water Balance 
  University of Texas at Austin.  This Digital Atlas of the World Water Balance is our second attempt at creating an integrated set of data files and models in GIS format that can be used to characterize the water balance of the earth.

• Groundwater Atlas of the U.S.  
  USGS.  Assessments of quality, quantity, nature, areal extent, and use.  Organized into 13 regions of the U.S.

• Water Use 
  USGS.  Includes 1995 National Water Use Report.  Data available by county or by watershed.
• Residential Water Use Summary
  AWWA.  Estimates of indoor and outdoor use, per capita, with and without conservation.  Indoor use broken down by end use (laundry, bath, toilets, etc.)
• Bureau of Reclamation
  Department of Interior.  Webpage for the one of the leading water managers in the West.
• Breaking stories on Water Use
  News paper articles on water use in the US. CNN provides relevant news on water demand. The site also cross indexes past articles so that it is easy to track related stories. Useful for more "breaking" information
• http://wwwga.usgs.gov/edu/wateruse.html
  This is site is designed as an educational asset, however, there is a great deal of useful information about general water use. Also provides useful access to other USGS sites.
• http://www.worldwater.org/
  This site dedicated to providing up-to-date water information and data and web connections to organizations, institutions, and individuals working on a wide range of global freshwater problems and solutions. This site complements and supplements the book The World’s Water: The Biennial Report on Freshwater Resources, by Peter H. Gleick (Island Press, Washington, D.C.). The site is maintained by The Pacific Institute.
• International Water Management Institute
  This is the site of the International Water Management Institute, a scientific research organization focusing on the use of water in agriculture and on the water needs of developing countries. The Institute works to develop tools and methods to help these countries eradicate poverty through more effective management of their water resources.
  
  The Institute has a team of scientists representing 10 nationalities. It has ongoing research and development projects in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Mexico, the Philippines, Iran, Vietnam, China and Africa.
  
  The IWMI approach to research is multidisciplinary. Typically, researchers from several disciplines cooperate on common projects. The IWMI team brings together hydrologists, agronomists, economists, social scientists and environmental health experts, that are supported by statisticians and information technology specialists.
• International Rivers Network 
  This is the site of the International Rivers Network. IRN supports local communities working to protect their rivers and watersheds. We work to halt destructive river development projects, and to encourage equitable and sustainable methods of meeting needs for water, energy and flood management.
• World Commission on Dams 
  This is the site of the World Commission on Dams. The overarching goals of the Commission are: (a) to review the development effectiveness of dams and assess alternatives for water resources and energy development, and (b) to develop internationally-accepted standards, guidelines and criteria for decision-making in the planning, design, construction, monitoring operation and decommissioning of dams. This site offers useful information on dams and a good site listing of other sources of information on dams.
• North Carolina Drought/Water Availability Conditions
  North Carolina Department of Natural Resources.  This site provides up to date information on drought conditions and the availability of water in North Carolina.