The U.S. Geological Survey Needs To Improve the Strategic Planning, Performance Measurement, and Transparency for its National Water Census Program

We recently conducted a review of the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) National Water Census program. Specifically, we reviewed the program’s strategic planning and goals, performance measurement, and funding for fiscal years 2011 – 2016. We determined that although improvements have been made in recent years, USGS has not included all of the required elements in its strategic science plan for the USGS Water Mission Area, sufficiently measured the program’s performance, or transparently reported its use of allocated funds for the program. 

 

USGS is in the process of updating its Water Mission Area strategic plan and improving its performance measurement and reporting. This report intends to provide support to USGS efforts to further improve its strategic management for the National Water Census. We offered three recommendations to help USGS further improve its strategic management efforts for the National Water Census.