National Water Information System Web

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

No one could fault the US. Geological

USGS, the nation's official collector of environmental information, archives more than 100 years of data about how much water flows through streams and rivers in every state and how clean that water is. Consumers of the information once had to cull through records manually, sifting and cross-- tabulating charts and measurements to conduct research. Now, the online National Water Information System Web does the work for them, and can combine historical data on any waterway to show how its conditions are changing over time.

So who uses such detailed particulars about creeks and rivers? Civil engineers designing hydroelectric power plants, river tour guides looking for prime kayaking conditions and residents of flood-prone areas who need to know when to flee rising waters depend upon the site daily, says Robert Hirsch, USGS associate director for water. And if the water Web goes down for even a few hours, the users start ringing USGS' phones. They've grown so dependent on the site, in fact, that the agency now has to manage a new flood of documents, Hirsch says-fan mail. -Shane Harris

WHY IT WON

More than a century of information placed at people's fingertips.

WHY IT'S INNOVATIVE

National water data was never collected in one place.

WHAT IT CHANGED

Engineers and outdoor lovers can download water data while they surf the Web.