New USGS Groundwater and Drought Web Pages

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has announced the release of a new web page highlighting, “Groundwater and Drought.”  The objective is to showcase the importance and value of groundwater during hydrological droughts:

• Groundwater may be an alternative or supplemental source of water during periods of drought.
• Reduced groundwater levels due to drought or increased pumping during drought can result in decreased water levels and flows in lakes, streams, and other water bodies.
• Changes in groundwater/surface-water exchange can result in changes in water quality.
• Decreased groundwater flow to surface waters can affect aquatic ecosystems that rely on a continuous supply of groundwater to sustain aquatic habitats and stream flow.
• Reduced heads in aquifers can result in land subsidence.

USGS invites states and others to link this page to your own drought pages.  If you have any questions, please contact Cian Dawson at cbdawson@usgs.gov.