# Presentation: 454809

## USGS Integrated Science –In and Beyond Maine Waters

**U.S. Department of the Interior**
**U.S. Geological Survey**

**USGS Integrated Science –****In and Beyond Maine Waters**
**Maine Water Conference**
**Augusta, ME**
**March 19, 2008**
**Mark Myers**
**Director **
**U.S. Geological Survey**

**Water – the common thread**

**A shared element of air, land, sea **
**A limited resource, global issue**
**Humans now use 54% of the available fresh water on the globe **
**Water availability diminished by **
**	****climate change, population growth, agricultural use**
**Water studies provide insight for integrated science issues **

## Science in the reallocation of water

- Mytilene Aqueduct, Greece, 3rd century A.D.

- Hoover Dam, Colorado River, 1935

## Ecosystem requirementsNow a major driver of changes in water allocation

## The Story of the Water Pie    Shrinking or Growing?

**The Story of the Water Pie****    ****Shrinking or Growing?**

**Factors**
-  **Withdrawal rate**
** ****Recharge rate **
** ****Changes in ground-surface****	****water dynamics**
** ****Climate change**

## Seeking synergy in science

**Seeking ****synergy**** in science**

**Evangelical Leaders Join Global Warming Initiative - New York Times**
- February 8, 2006
- By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
- Despite opposition from some of their colleagues, 86 evangelical Christian leaders have decided to back a major initiative to fight global warming, saying "millions of people could die in this century

**Copper prices set another record**By Dale Funk, Contributing EditorApr 1, 2006 12:00 PMWhile most wire and cable industry veterans and commodity analysts expected 2006 to be a year of moderation for copper prices, when copper jumped 9.45 cents to nearly $2.36 a pound on March 17 on the New York Mercantile Exchange, it set another record.

*A British experts report on climate change warns that failure to curb global warming could trigger worldwide economic devastation, with poor countries hit first and hardest.  Prime Minister Tony Blair called for urgent international action.*

## USGS Science Strategy Directions

## USGS Science Strategy Directions – Maine Focus

## Congressional Support for Water Census – since 2002

**Congressional Support for Water Census – since 2002**

**“****The [House Appropriations] Committee is concerned   about the future of water availability for the Nation. **
**...**
**The Committee directs that the USGS prepare a report ... of the efforts needed to provide periodic assessments ... of freshwater resources.”**
**Directive from Congress to USGS, FY 2002**** **

## Administration Support for Water Census 

**Administration Support for Water Census***** ***

- USGS gaging station on Sebago Lake, principal water supply for greater Portland area

- “The United States has a strong need for an ongoing census
- of water that describes the status of our Nation’s water resource
- at any point in time and identifies trends over time.”

- President’s FY 2009 Budget supports the Water Census

**National Science and Technology Council report,**
***A Strategy for Federal Science and Technology to Support Water Availability***
***and Quality in the United States*****  (September 2007)**

## Census activities will be organized around the 21 Water Resource Regions established in Circular 1223

**Water Census: Nationwide Study Plans**

**Report to Congress: Concepts for National Assessment of Water Availability and Use, U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1223, 2002**

## Water Census Benefits

- Use Recommendations of the
- National Research Council Report

- Ability to track water from
- point of withdrawal thru to
- return of flow.

- Develop water use
- characteristics by types of land use

**Water Census Benefits**

## Understanding Ecosystems and
Predicting Ecosystem Change

**Predicting Ecosystem Change**

-  **Climate Variability and Change**

**USGS Science Directions**
**Interactions in Maine**

## Spring

**Winter**

**Spring**

## Hydrologic changes in NE states due to climate change  Similar to NW states

- 1-2 Week Earlier Streamflow Timing

- Earlier streamflow timing
- Earlier iceout dates & thinner ice
- Fewer ice-affected days at gages
- Greater rain/snow ratios
- Smaller snowpacks
- Warmer spring water temperature

- Hydrologic changes in NE states due to climate change  Similar to NW states

## Trendsin the timing of

**Trends****in the timing of**
**winter-spring****flows**

## ~50% to 150% increases

## Increasing flows

- Decreasing flows

## Ocean Action Plan – Maine Features

- President’s Ocean Action Plan calls for understanding processes that affect ocean health by studying water from the oceans to the headwaters of rivers and streams.
- A fundamental principle of the Ocean Action Plan – Think nationally, but act regionally.
- Penobscot River and Bay is a prime study area.

## Penobscot Dam Removal

**USGS scientists have discovered pock marks, probably from gas seeps in the study area.**
**Sediment monitoring station installed north of Bucksport to baseline current (pre-dam removal) sediment transport conditions. **

## Gulf of Maine Council

**Mapping Penobscot Bay is a small piece of Gulf of Maine Mapping Initiative (GOMMI) –a transboundary effort of the****Gulf of Maine Council.**
**USGS active in Council activities, especially habitat monitoring and ecosystem indicators partnership.**

## Ecosystem Indicators Partnership

**Transboundary leaders in developing ecosystem indicators for aquatic habitat, ****climate**** change, coastal development and contaminants. **
**Learn more about the ESIP Committee at www.gulfofmaine.org/esip**
** **

***       ***USGS biologist Adria Elskus studies contaminant levels in fishes and invertebrates in the Penobscot and other rivers in the Gulf of Maine watershed.

## Indicator Reporting Tool Just released (March 4, 2008) 

- Access through ESIP Webpage: www.gulfofmaine.org/esip

## NROC – Northeast Regional Ocean Council

**The council seeks to be compatible with existing regional efforts.**
**Four main interests:**
**Ocean and coastal ecosystem health**
**Render New England a “Coastal Hazards Ready” Region**
**Ocean energy planning and management**
**Maritime security in New England**

## Water – the key to life

- Penob3.riv

**Water – the key to life**

- Contour study of the Penobscot River at Veazie Dam

**Water – the common thread in Maine**

**A shared element of air, land, sea **
**As in other places, Maine waters are affected**
**	****by population growth and agricultural use, **
**	****but particularly here, by climate change.**
**Maine water studies provide important regional insight **
**	****for integrated science at national and global levels. **

**Notes:**
. In conclusion, I’d like to emphasize a few points point I made earlier in the context of Maine.

. Water connects and binds us all. 

. As in other places, understanding the nature of water in Maine presents a scientific key to comprehending the complexity of earth systems in the northern New England area and contributes to a greater overall understanding of natural science challenges.  

. Maine water studies provide important regional insight for integrated science at national and global levels. 

. I trust that you’re now thoroughly convinced that the USGS is well positioned to make contributions to water, climate, biological, geological – in short, integrated - science in Maine. I assure you, we’re eager to do it.