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The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides the Nation with reliable, impartial geospatial earth and biological science information that is used to minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; to characterize energy, mineral, biological, and water resources; to enhance and protect the quality of life; and to contribute to wise economic development and a sustainable future. This mission requires that the USGS anticipate and respond in a timely manner to a broad array of earth and biological-science issues. This USGS Strategic Plan for the US/Mexico Border Region provides an outline for how the USGS will face the challenges of the next decade and ensure maximum contribution and relevance to the national interest.

I. INTRODUCTION

Mexico and the United States share a wealth of natural and cultural resources along the 1,950-mile international boundary. The border region overlays a rich diversity of landscapes and cultures, contrasting some of North America's most pristine and untouched ecosystems with some of its fastest-growing urban areas.

This region encompasses a vast array of physical settings and habitats including freshwater and marine wetlands, deserts, rangelands, mountains, and forests which are unique in terms of the diversity of their water, mineral, and biological resources . The socio-political culture that has developed in the region is also unique. Almost 12 million people reside within the border region, a ten-fold increase during the past 60 years. The population is predicted to double within the next 20 years. This growing population, coupled with inadequate infrastructure, is stressing the limited natural resources and fragile habitats of the region.

A wide array of federal, state, local, and tribal entities in both countries are responsible for the management of the border's natural and cultural resources. On the US side of the border, the federal government owns or administers approximately 45% of the total land area. Additionally, a large proportion of the remaining lands are owned and/or managed by state, local, and tribal authorities. On the Mexican side, large areas are being designated for federal protection and management. The protected areas on both sides of the border continue to face a variety of stressors.

Despite the historical and present-day importance of the border region, there are gaps in information regarding the extent and abundance of its natural resources and physical setting. This information is critical to enable citizens, local and state governments, Department of the Interior (DOI) bureaus, and other federal agencies to make informed decisions concerning land and water management, environmental protection, and ecological preservation. By integrating the cartographic, geologic, biologic, and hydrologic capabilities of the USGS, a framework for improved management and use of natural resources along the border can be established that relies upon a sound, scientific basis for effective environmental policy and resource management decisions.

II. USGS CORE COMPETENCIES

The core competencies identified in the "Strategic Plan for the U.S. Geological Survey, 1997-2005" are the key skills, characteristics, and assets that the USGS must maintain and further develop in order to satisfy its mission and meet customer expectations. These competencies differentiate the capabilities of the USGS from the capabilities of other organizations in the border region. The goals and strategic actions outlined in this plan address these core competencies.

Impartiality, credibility, and scientific excellence--Natural-resource management and protection in the border region requires the collection and exchange of credible, impartial scientific information between the U.S. and Mexico. The responsibility for providing such information to those charged with making public policy is central to the mission of the USGS.

Relationships and partnerships--Within the border region there are 2 countries, 10 states, and 25 tribes with natural-resource management and environmental-protection agencies. In addition, local governments, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, businesses and industries, and the public have interests in the border's resources. This international setting offers the potential for numerous binational partnerships. Thus, the USGS must nurture its relationships and partnerships by giving timely and responsive information and data to its customers.

Multidisciplinary workforce and national presence--Diverse talents are required to address the variety of complex landscape and natural-resource issues along the U.S./Mexico border. The USGS is internationally recognized for its capability to direct diverse talents to earth and biological science challenges such as those along the border.

Long-term national data bases--Except for a few geographic areas along the border, there are no comprehensive, long-term, geospatial and natural-resources data bases. The USGS is recognized internationally as the leader in organizing and managing earth and biological sciences data and information. Customers rely on USGS data bases as the principal source of impartial, credible, properly documented, and archived data. The USGS makes these data available in a variety of useful forms, including providing access to near-real time data on the Internet.

Long-term, regional, multidisciplinary interpretative studies--The complex landscape and natural-resource issues in the U.S./Mexico border region require that long-term, regional, interdisciplinary studies be directed to the region. The USGS excels in understanding the scientific principles of earth and biological processes and is uniquely positioned to conduct both interstate and binational studies.

III. GOALS

The goals defined by the USGS Border Strategy Team address landscape and natural-resource issues in the US/Mexico border region. They flow logically from the USGS mission, relate directly to USGS core competencies, and translate the USGS mission into actions. These goals are:

Goal 1. Provide national and international leadership for the development of long-term geospatial and natural-resource data bases for the border region.

Goal 2. Assess and report the condition of the landscape of the border region and its natural resources.

Goal 3. Characterize natural processes and identify factors that influence natural resources within the border region.

Goal 4. Develop capability to predict potential effects of human activities and natural processes on the resources of the border region.

Goal 5. Facilitate sound management of the natural resources of the border region by collaborating with partners.

IV. RECENT USGS ACHIEVEMENTS

Since the establishment of the USGS Border Strategy Team, numerous activities have contributed to progress toward achieving the goals outlined above. Specifically the USGS:

• Advocates the use of scientific information and geospatial data in resource management and environmental protection decision making.



• Provides geologic, hydrologic, geospatial, and biological information for the border region.



• Participates in the DOI US/Mexico Border Field Coordinating Committee (FCC) and leads three of its Issue Teams -- Aerial Photography and Mapping, Shared Water Resources, and Lower Rio Grande.



• Co-authors binational reports, such as the Natural Resources, Water, and Environmental Information sections of the binational "Border XXI Framework Document" and its implementation plans.



• Participates in the Border XXI Water and Natural Resources Work Groups and chairs the Environmental Information Work Group's Geospatial Data/GIS Sub-group.



• Represents DOI on the President's Good Neighbor Environmental Board.



• Undertakes numerous data-collection programs and interpretive studies in cooperation with its domestic and international partners.



• Provides the capability for translating geospatial information from Mexico into binational, seamless geographic information systems.



• Produces tangible products, such as aerial photographs and geospatial data; biologic, hydrologic, and geologic data; fact sheets and interpretive reports; bibliographies; Internet-based information sources; and presentations at scientific meetings, border conferences, and other border-related forums.

V. STRATEGIC ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE GOALS

The following geographical areas and their associated issues have been identified for implementing an USGS interdisciplinary approach that will contribute to achieving the above goals. These areas and issues have been selected because of their relevance to border-wide information needs; their importance to management decisions by other federal, state, local, and tribal agencies; and the probability of obtaining funding to successfully achieve the goals as identified in the strategic plan. Within each area, broad USGS objectives have been identified. Supporting these objectives are strategic actions that should be addressed by each Division, Biological Resources Division (BRD), Geologic Division (GD), National Mapping Division (NMD), and Water Resources Division (WRD). Some activities to address these issues are ongoing, while others will require new financial resources. For each of these areas, dissemination of information is an overarching strategic activity.

Rio Grande River Below Falcon International Dam

Issues: The Rio Grande watershed below Falcon International Dam, including the Arroyo Colorado, is one of the fastest growing areas of the border region. The critical natural-resource issue in the area is the availability of water for satisfying human and agricultural needs while providing streamflows adequate to maintain and enhance stream and associated riparian habitats. Available streamflows of the Rio Grande are fully allocated under international treaty. Minimum instream-flow volumes and peaks necessary to support indigenous species and riparian habitat have not been determined. Also of critical concern is the quality of water and the effects of contaminants on species, habitats, and use of the resource. Polluted urban runoff, undertreated industrial and municipal wastewater, agricultural practices, and coal mining are other issues.

Objective: Characterize watershed conditions, define instream flow requirements, and develop tools to effectively manage complex watersheds for the benefit of both humans and indigenous species.

Strategic Actions:

• BRD - Characterize aquatic and riparian biological communities, determine instream flow and physical habitat requirements, and define the effects of contaminants on these communities.
• GD - Characterize coastal plain setting and conduct regional coal assessment and characterization.
• NMD - Provide and integrate orthoimagery, elevation, hydrography, transportation, and land use/land cover data; delineate large-scale watersheds; and develop a fully-integrated watershed data base.
• WRD - Characterize surface-water hydrology and quality; determine instream flow and physical habitat requirements; and delineate large-scale watersheds.

Salton Sea

Issues: The Salton Sea, a 35-mile long inland, hypersaline lake in southern California, is located in the lowest portion of a desert valley. Legally designated as a repository for irrigation drain water, the Sea has been the subject of considerable negative publicity for several years. Increasing salinity, rising and/or falling water-surface elevations, and wildlife mortalities all have contributed to the loss of value for the Sea and surrounding area. The most recent outbreak (1996) of avian botulism claimed approximately 20% of the total Pacific Flyway population of endangered brown pelicans. This was followed in 1997 by an outbreak of Newcastle's disease. All of these issues have focused the problems of the Salton Sea for federal agencies, Congress, state and local agencies, and the public.

Objective: Assess ecosystem health from a multidisciplinary scientific perspective.

Strategic Actions:

• BRD - Characterize interactions between salinity, other contaminants, and diseases, and document the limnological characteristics of the Sea.
• GD - Characterize physical setting by producing a detailed geology and fault map and assess the seismic hazards relative the location of faults and planned engineered structures.
• NMD - Provide and integrate orthoimagery, elevation, hydrography, transportation, and land use/land cover data and develop a digital, geospatial data base.
• WRD - Define long-term, water-quality trends using bottom-sediment cores, develop a water budget for the Sea, and refine existing circulation models.

San Diego-Tijuana Urban Corridor

Issues: The rapidly growing San Diego-Tijuana urban corridor is located in one of the most seismically active areas of North America. Critical landscape and natural-resource issues include the disruptive effects of earthquakes, landslides, and floods on urban infrastructure, and the effects of urbanization on water resources. The principal water resource issues include balancing water demand and supply (imported), and polluted runoff from both countries. Urban flooding, sedimentation of coastal estuaries, and flood-plain management are additional issues affecting the area.

Objective: Characterize the linkages between natural hazards and urbanization and develop tools to effectively manage complex watersheds for the benefit of both humans and indigenous species.

Strategic Actions:

• BRD - Identify sensitive biological communities within the Tijuana River estuary and the Sweetwater River Wildlife Refuge.
• GD - Characterize geologic hazards and maintain partnerships with Mexico, California, regional, and local agencies.
• NMD - Provide fully-integrated geospatial data and large-scale watershed delineations.
• WRD - Characterize regional hydrology, quantify sediment and contaminant transport to receiving waterbodies, and delineate large-scale watersheds.

El Paso-Ciudad Juarez Metropolitan Area

Issues: The El Paso-Ciudad Juarez metropolitan area is another fast growing area of the border region. The critical natural-resource issue is the availability of water. While the conjunctive use of ground and surface water is satisfying immediate water needs, additional demands imposed by projected growth will exceed the capacity of the area's limited water resources. Ground-water withdrawals have resulted in land-surface subsidence. Other issues include undertreated industrial and municipal wastewater and polluted runoff.

Objective: Define and predict natural-resource limitations.

Strategic Actions:

• BRD - Characterize the effects of urbanization on the limited natural habitats.
• GD - Characterize the mechanics of land-surface subsidence associated with ground-water withdrawals.
• NMD - Develop binationally compatible digital geospatial information systems.
• WRD - Characterize regional hydrology and contaminant transport to receiving water bodies.

San Pedro-Santa Cruz Basins

Issues: The primary natural-resource issues associated with these basins are limited water quantity, impaired water quality, and potential impacts of mining operations. Water in the San Pedro River is supplied by flows that originate in Mexico and by discharge from the adjacent aquifers. Management challenges include maintenance of sufficient flows for the protection of riparian environments, resolution of conflicting water-use interests, legal determination of water rights, and identification of the effects of water-resources development in the upper reaches in Mexico. Acidic water due to mineral deposits and tailings dam failures in Mexico have had significant impacts on downstream habitats, and often sewage effluent makes up the majority of the flow in the Santa Cruz River. Ground water in the Nogales area is contaminated by infiltration of sewage-derived water. Pressing water-management decisions are being made without an adequate understanding of the origin of surface flows, ground water-surface water interactions, and the importance of the riparian system.

Objective: Characterize natural-resource conditions and provide tools needed to evaluate management alternatives.

Strategic Actions:

• BRD - Characterize riparian habitat and its implications to biodiversity.
• GD - Characterize the geologic framework for ground-water resource assessment, and identify the sources and quantify the extent of acid drainage within the watershed.
• NMD - Partner with Mexico to provide binational aerial photography, provide fully-integrated geospatial data, and provide large-scale watershed delineations.
• WRD - Characterize the hydrologic system and delineate large-scale watersheds.

Big Bend National Park and Adjacent Protected Areas

Issues: The United States and Mexico have designated a significant portion of the Chihuahuan Desert landscape for protection of natural resources. These areas include Big Bend National Park, Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River, Big Bend Ranch State Natural Area, Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, and Santa Elena Cañon and Maderas del Carmen Protected Areas. Resource managers in the area are in need of additional scientific information and geospatial data to optimize their resource protection efforts. Limited water availability and impaired water and air quality are primary concerns. Additionally, information pertaining to the status of biological resources within this area are quite limited.

Objective: Provide scientific information for management of protected areas.

Strategic Actions:

• BRD - Determine the biological implications of air and water-quality degradation.
• GD - Conduct regional coal assessment and characterization and assess mineral resource potential.
• NMD - Provide aerial photography, digital geospatial data, and revised topographic maps.
• WRD - Characterize surface-water hydrology and water quality.

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