The Hydrologic Frequency Analysis Work Group (HFAWG) met on January 28, 2004 at the office of Michael Baker, Jr. in Alexandria, VA. The meeting was conducted by Rocky Durrans, HFAWG Chairman. Ten people attended in person and three people by conference call. Following is a brief summary of issues discussed and action items.

1. Rocky Durrans reported there was no significant progress on the regulated flood frequency guidelines. He suggested the task group on regulated flood frequency should meet in the near future to continue work on these guidelines.

2. Will Thomas and Zhida Song-James provided a summary of about 25 generalized (regional) skew studies completed by USGS and USACE since the publication of Bulletin 17B. The generalized skews developed in these studies were shown to be more accurate than the Bulletin 17B skew map providing some motivation for a nationwide study. A small task group will develop guidance or standards on performing generalized skew studies, the benefits of such a study, and the impacts on flood frequency analysis and submit this document to the SOH for their consideration and action.

3. Bill Kirby provided an update on the USGS PEAKFQ program that implements Bulletin 17B guidelines. USGS is developing a windows version of this program and adding the Expected Moments Algorithm (EMA) as a computational option. This will enable USGS and others to more easily evaluate the EMA technique using observed peak flow data and to determine if this technique is superior to existing procedures in Bulletin 17B. If so, the EMA technique would be included in Bulletin 17B. Jeff Harris reported that USACE is also developing a windows version of HEC-FFA that implements Bulletin 17B guidelines and planned to add the EMA technique to their program. Ken Bullard reported the Bureau of Reclamation is using the EMA technique in a computer program developed by John England.

4. Martin Becker provided a few examples of Code of Ethics relative to data analyses and computations and asked the work group to identify a few key points that could form the basis for "Guidelines for Practice". Based on work group input, Martin will draft some guidelines for data analysis that could become a supplement to Bulletin 17B or a standalone document that would be put on the HFAWG web site.

5. Will Thomas and Zhida Song-James provided a brief summary of the 42 references given in Appendix 1 of Bulletin 17B, identified those that were outdated and new reports that may be more applicable. The work group agreed that all references in Bulletin 17B should be located and archived in a library such as the USGS or USDA libraries. A brief summary of each reference will be prepared that describes the applicability of the reference and also identifies other more current publications on the same topic. Jery Stedinger (Cornell University) suggested that one of his graduate students could prepare this summary that would be put on the HFAWG web site.

6. Will Thomas will assume the Chair of the HFAWG at the July 2004 meeting and Ken Bullard will become Vice Chair.

7. Next meeting of the HFAWG will be in July 2004 just prior to the SOH meeting

January 28, 2004