The USGS and the Gulf of Mexico

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is committed to mapping, monitoring, and conducting research in the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent watersheds. Through a network of science centers in the five Gulf States and across the Nation, the USGS applies its biologic, geologic, geographic, and hydrologic expertise to provide unbiased scientific findings to decision makers, particularly members and supporters of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance. The overarching goal of USGS Gulf Coast activities is to provide the scientific information, knowledge, and tools required to facilitate management decisions that promote restoration, increase coastal resilience, and mitigate risks associated with both artificial and natural hazards.

The USGS has eight Science Centers located in the Gulf States:

The Gulf of Mexico Alliance is a partnership of the States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. It is supported by 13 Federal agencies, including the Department of Interior, which is represented by its coastal Bureaus (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and USGS).

The overall goal of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance is to significantly increase regional collaboration that will enhance the ecological and economic health of the Gulf of Mexico. In 2009, the Gulf of Mexico Alliance produced its Governors’ Action Plan II, which identified six priority areas that can be effectively addressed through coordinated activities at local, State, and Federal levels.

Water Quality for Healthy Beaches and Seafood
Habitat Conservation and Restoration
Ecosystems Integration and Assessment
Reducing Nutrient Impacts to Coastal Ecosystems
Coastal Community Resilience
Environmental Education