The Water Mission Area (WMA; previously organized as the Water Resources Discipline, or WRD) of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) performs a wide variety of groundwater data-collection programs and investigations to assess the status of the Nation's groundwater resources. Results of these activities are used to aid the Nation in characterizing, developing, managing, and maintaining its groundwater resources. As the Nation's principal earth-science agency, the USGS collects accurate data and produces factual and impartial interpretive reports.