Research Guides: Water Resources: Selected Web Resources

Selected Web Resources

WaterWatch (USGS) WaterWatch displays maps, graphs, and tables describing real-time, recent, and past streamflow conditions for the United States. The real-time information generally is updated on an hourly basis. Includes Hawaii data
Water Quality Information Center (WQIC) (National Agricultural Library, USDA) This center "provides electronic access to information on water quality and agriculture. The center collects, organizes, and communicates the scientific findings, educational methodologies, and public policy issues related to water quality and agriculture."
Climate Data Online (National Climate Data Center, NOAA) Provides downloadable data from weather stations located all over the world. Data are provided in hours and include temperature, precipitation, wind speed and wind direction. The data sets are free to users requesting from educational institutions.
Technical Resources - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA) This NRCS Web site provides access to natural resources assessments; data, maps and analysis; and more.
USGS Water Data for the Nation (U.S. Geological Survey, Department of Interior) These pages provide access to water-resources data collected in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Data categories include current conditions, site information, surface water, groundwater, water quality, and water use.
World Climate Data and Monitoring Programme (WCDMP) (World Meteorological Organization) This site provides organized access to a variety of climate data assessments, data sets and products.
Environmental Protection Agency Publications (National Service Center for Environmental Publications, US EPA) A searchable database of digitized EPA publications going back to pre-1976.
Our Waters (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Provides links to government information on a variety of water issues such as drinking water, ground water, oceans and coasts, wastewater, etc.
National Water Program This program is a partnership between USDA, NIFA and Land Grant Colleges and Universities. It provides information resources about water quality both for regional programs and national themes. Includes access to the National Water Conference proceedings.
Groundwater Toolbox (USGS) The Groundwater Toolbox is a GIS-driven graphical and mapping interface for estimating base flow, surface runoff, and groundwater recharge from streamflow data. The Toolbox runs in a Microsoft Windows environment and is available free from the USGS.

Web Resources for Hawaii and the Pacific

Water Resources Research Center @UHM
This site provides Technical Reports, Technical Memoranda, and other project reports documenting the research performed at the Center since its establishment. These reports represent one of the most extensive collections of water research in Hawaii and the Pacific.
Hawaii State Water Wells
(HGGRC, UH Manoa) The Hawai‘i State Water Well project digitized all of the water well files at the DLNR, Commission of Water Resource Management (CWRM). This website provides access to the data via an interactive map.
Published Soil Surveys for Hawaii
(Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA) Links to Web Soil Survey data and archived pdf files.
UH Manoa Weather Server
(Meteorology Department, UH Manoa) Weather data categories include Hawaiian weather, tropical Weather, satellite imagery, models, and archived data.
Rainfall Atlas of Hawaii
(Geography Department, UH Manoa) The Rainfall Atlas of Hawaiʻi is an interactive set of maps of the spatial patterns of rainfall for the major Hawaiian Islands. Maps are available for mean monthly and annual rainfall for the 30-yr base period 1978–2007. Rainfall maps and station rainfall measurements can be downloaded.
Water Resources of the Pacific Islands
(USGS) The USGS Web page for the water resources of Hawaii and the Pacific area is a direct link to water-resource information and products for the State of Hawaii, the U.S. Territories of Guam and American Samoa, the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia.
Regional Water Quality Program - State of Hawaii
(Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Services, USDA) Information resources on water pollution, watershed management, and animal waste management for Hawaii. Links to the programs for American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, and Palau.
Pacific Islands Area Technical Notes
(NRCS, USDA) PDF files of publications on agronomy, biology, conservation, forestry, range, soil, water and more.

Evaluating Web Sites

Publishing on the Web is very different than publishing in print — the traditional medium for scientific literature. Anyone can publish a Web page without anyone evaluating the accuracy or quality of the information. Reviews by peers, reviewers, editors, and publishers are not often applied to Web sites.

The sole responsibility for evaluating the scholarly content of a Web site rests with the Web site user.

Traditional evaluation criteria used for print resources and Web specific criteria are both useful as indicators of quality and should considered when examining Web sites.

Evaluation Criteria

1. Authorship: Is the author identified? What are the author’s credentials? For example, does the site include the author's position and institutional affiliation? Is the URL for an educational institution (.edu) or government agency (.gov)?

2. Accuracy: Can the data be verified from other sources? Does the author have an obvious bias?

3. Audience: Is the site intended for scholars or professionals, for lay people, or for students?

4. Currency: Does the Web site include the date it was created and/or updated? Are the links current?

5. Coverage: Does the site state its intended scope? Is it designed to cover an entire subject, or to give detailed information on one aspect?

6. Relative Value: How does it compare to other sources of similar information? Are there other more accurate or complete sources - possibly in print format?