USGS Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility Opens On UA Campus

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on Wednesday officially opened its new Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility (HIF) on the University of Alabama campus, adjacent to the NOAA National Water Center.

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UA says the 92,000-square-foot facility marks a new chapter for the USGS, which has been operational since 1970 and was previously located at the Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

The new site spans 8.8 acres and will house approximately 50 USGS employees who will collaborate with UA students and staff. Construction of the facility first began in March 2022.

“The new facility will strengthen our partnership with The University of Alabama and is a major investment in the future,” USGS Director David Applegate said. “It ensures USGS water science and data will serve the needs of all Americans for decades to come.”

UA explained that the facility features a state-of-the-art hydraulics lab, including a 350-foot-long tow tank, a 230-foot tilting flume and a 100-by-24-foot test basin.

The new facility also includes three training rooms, laboratories for testing and developing hydrologic equipment and an 11,000-square-foot warehouse.

Additionally, a 150-person auditorium and a Network Operations Center is also part of the new complex.

Retired U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, who secured the funding for the project during his time in the Senate, praised the partnership between USGS and the University, noting its potential to drive vital discoveries.

“The University’s emphasis on water research will enrich lives across Alabama and the entire country,” Shelby said.

UA said the Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility will play a key role in the USGS Next Generation Water Observing System Program by enhancing the agency’s ability to respond to water hazards and manage monitoring networks.

The facility also plans to offer equipment sales, rentals, and servicing for USGS Water Science Centers and federal partners.

The USGS Lower Mississippi Gulf Tuscaloosa Field Office will also operate from the new site.

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