Coordination of U.S. river science

Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey is well‐poised to lead a national river science initiative but will need to expand its monitoring efforts and determine how to coordinate interdisciplinary research across USGS and other government agencies, according to a recent report from a committee of the U.S. National Academies.Committee Chair Don Siegel,a hydrogeologist in the Department of Earth Sciences at Syracuse University, N.Y., said that the USGS has unique strengths—including a reputation for providing high‐quality, unbiased data and expertise in many areas of river science—that would allow the agency to look at whole river systems at multiple scales and across state boundaries.