The new U.S. Geographic Survey facility at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County will pool federal and university resources to monitor the Chesapeake region’s water supply and waterways.

And that is good business, said Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith.

“The participation between the government and the education community is very crucial to us in being competitive in the world,” Smith said.

With the USGS, “this park will be an even stronger magnet for research and technology companies,” he said.

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College and government officials broke ground Thursday on the $4.5 billion facility, touting it as the future of research into how to manage and react to major weather events such as this week’s record rainfall. Researchers also will play a major role in monitoring and managing the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

The one-level, 23,000-square-foot building will house the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, currently operated out of commercial space in White Marsh.

The building is part of the university’s 41-acre Research and Technology Park, which also houses tenants like NASA. It is the third of five buildings planned for the site, with contracts pending to complete a fourth structure.

“Our science informs the nation about our natural resources, our water and our environmental quality,” said Bob Hirsch, director of USGS’s water programs.

“Partnerships with universities are critical to conducting our research. ... It really adds a lot of vitality to what we do to be in the presence of scholars.”

Teachers at the university shared his enthusiasm.

“Participation by USGS scientists will be woven into many aspects of what we do,” said hydrology professor Claire Welty.

She said news of the pending opening cemented her last decision to renew her contract with the university.

khille@baltimoreexaminer.com