The Natural Resources Conservation Service

The mission of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is "To provide leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, improve, and sustain our natural resources and environment."

The NRCS Vision: "Harmony between people and the land."

The National Water and Climate Center

Our Mission is "To lead the development and transfer of water and climate information and technology which support natural resource conservation."

With a Vision of the future as "A globally recognized source for a top quality spatial snow, water, climate, and hydrologic network of information and technology."

The Functions of the National Water and Climate Center are:

• Natural Resource Planning Support

  • Assess the effectiveness of applied technology and support activities in relation to meeting customer needs
  • Provide water supply forecasts
  • Provide water and climate analysis, information, and services for NRCS, partners and customers
  • Provide concepts and technical input for policy development and the legislative process
  • Provide emergency support to customers in response to extreme natural resource events
  • Provide water quality and quantity expertise in support of farmstead, field level, watershed, and river basin evaluations
   

• Data Acquisition and Management

  • Operate the Snowpack Telemetry (SNOTEL) data collection system for the United States and Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN)
  • Acquire, enhance, and manage specific data sets to support the resource planning for all resource areas including Soil, Water, Air, Plants, Animals and Human
  • Design and manage an on-line, quality controlled, national database for NRCS and partners in support of farm, watershed and river basin scale planning
  • Coordinate with other entities to develop procedures for integration of information from plant, animal, soil, water quality, and pesticide databases
   

• Technology Innovation

  • Identify and anticipate priority needs to support the Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) and customer requirements
  • Assess and select technologies required to address resource concerns
  • Adapt appropriate technologies
  • Facilitate new technology development
  • Maintain inventory of available and developing technologies
   

• Partnerships and Joint Ventures

  • Cooperatively fund and develop new technology
  • Establish and maintain joint strategic databases
  • Share existing technology to meet user needs
  • Develop cooperative support for technology transfer and implementation
  • Partner with NRCS offices and other organizations for natural resource planning support
  • Evaluate feedback from partners to improve effectiveness
   

• Technology Transfer

  • Release new technology through means appropriate to customer needs
  • Assist in training related to technological releases
  • Market and promote new technology
  • Provide expertise to support new technology
  • Ensure that technology transfer meets customer needs and expectations