FUTURE ROLES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY -- Copyright -- Contents -- Executive Summary -- A NATURAL SCIENCE AND INFORMATION AGENCY -- MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES -- Monitoring, Reporting, and Forecasting -- Assessing Resources -- Providing Geospatial Information -- NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ROLES -- IMPROVING EFFECTIVENESS -- Priority Setting -- Meeting Technical Needs -- Budget -- CONCLUSION -- 1 Introduction -- VISION AND MISSION OF THE USGS -- STRATEGIC CHANGE AT THE USGS -- STUDY AND REPORT -- 2 The Past and Present as a Prologue -- THE PUBLIC DOMAIN AND THE USGS -- THE EVOLUTION OF THE USGS -- Changes in Society -- 1879 to 1920 -- 1920-1975 -- 1975-Present -- Changes in Relationships Between Society and Science -- Changes Within the USGS -- THE USGS TODAY -- 3 Future Societal Trends -- NATURAL RESOURCES -- Mineral Resources -- Energy Resources -- Water Resources -- Biological Resources -- ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES -- GLOBALIZATION AND NATIONAL SECURITY -- SOCIETAL EXPECTATIONS AND THE DEMAND FOR INFORMATION -- SERVING THE UNDERSERVED POPULATION -- SUMMARY -- 4 Evolving to Meet National Needs -- ROLE OF THE USGS -- SERVING CUSTOMERS -- FUTURE PROGRAM EMPHASIS -- Integrative System Models -- The USGS as a Scientific Information Portal -- Other Program Areas -- INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES -- FUTURE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES -- Hazards -- Hydrologic Processes and Hazards -- Wildfires and Public Policy -- Environment -- Global Climate Change -- Climate Variability and Water Resources -- Links Between Geologic Processes and Human Health -- State of the Nation's Ecosystems -- Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems -- Investigations to Support Wise Urban Development in the West -- Natural Resources -- Life Cycles of Ore Materials -- Geologic Frameworks for Transition to a Methane Fuel Economy.

TRANSITION TOWARD AN INTEGRATED NATURAL SCIENCE AND INFORMATION AGENCY -- SUMMARY -- 5 Future Challenges -- PRIORITY SETTING -- RESEARCH PROGRAM -- EXTERNAL GUIDANCE -- HUMAN RESOURCES -- COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION -- Federal Partnerships -- Industry and University Partnerships -- External Grants Program -- Employee Exchanges -- REIMBURSABLE PROGRAMS -- BUDGET AND FUNDING -- SUMMARY -- 6 Preparing for the Future: Conclusions and Recommendations -- A NATURAL SCIENCE AND INFORMATION AGENCY -- MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES -- Monitoring, Reporting, and Forecasting -- Assessing Resources -- Providing Geospatial Information -- NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ROLES -- IMPROVING EFFECTIVENESS -- Priority Setting -- Meeting Technical Needs -- Budget -- SUMMARY -- REFERENCES -- Appendixes -- Appendix A Biographical Sketches of Committee Members -- Appendix B Oral Presentations and Written Statements Submitted to the Committee -- ORAL PRESENTATIONS -- WRITTEN STATEMENTS -- Acronyms.