PARTICIPATING:

Glenn Austin, National Weather Service
Tom Donaldson, National Weather Service
Mike Grimm, Federal Emergency Management Agency
Kevin Long, Federal Emergency Management Agency
Martin Becker, Defenders of Property Rights
Bob Harrison, Defenders of Property Rights
Don Frevert, US Bureau of Reclamation
Will Thomas, Association of State Flood Plain Managers/Michael Baker and Associates
Kernell Ries, US Geological Survey
Robert Mason, US Geological Survey
William Kirby, US Geological Survey
Eric Janes, Bureau of Land Management
David Wells, Environmental Protection Agency
Myra Price, Environmental Protection Agency
Sam Lin, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Jon Werner, Natural Resource Conservation Service
Gene Stallings, National Hydrologic Warning Council
Ken Gorton, American Forests
Don Woodward, American Forests
Doug James, National Science Foundation
David Wingerd, Corps of Engineers

SUMMARY OF MEETING:

Mike Grimm called the meeting to order.

The meeting agenda was approved.

The minutes of the October 17 subcommittee meeting were approved.

Hydrologic Frequency Analysis Workgroup Update:

Will Thomas, Mike Grimm and Martin Becker Provided an update on the efforts of the workgroup. 

One of the major products of the work group is a set of Frequently Asked Questions related to Bulletin 17-B.

It was moved, seconded and agreed to that the set of Frequently Asked Questions be posted on the work group’s website.

Action:  Bill Kirby will e-mail the Frequently Asked Questions to Don Frevert (this has subsequently been done).

Action:  Don Frevert will forward to the Frequently Asked Questions to Carol Lewis for posting on the work group website.

Bill Kirby will be the designated contact point for the Frequently Asked Questions. 

The group also discussed the status of the paper entitled “Evaluation of Flood Frequency Estimates for Ungaged Watersheds” which was submitted by the workgroup and adopted at the April, 2002 subcommittee meeting.  A minority report was also submitted by a member of the workgroup.  Both the “paper” and the minority report will be forwarded to ACWI with the explanation that the “paper” represents the position accepted by the subcommittee.

Action:  A task group composed of Mike Grimm, Martin Becker, Don Frevert and a representative from USGS will work out how to get the paper on Frequency Estimates for Ungaged Watersheds officially adapted and determine if it is appropriate to have it included in the Federal Register.

Will Thomas reported that the task group on regulated flood frequency analysis met on November 7, 2002 in Atlanta, Georgia.  Various presentations were made at the meeting on different approaches for regulated flood frequency analysis ranging from theoretical to applied approaches used for completed or ongoing studies.  The task group will meet again in Atlanta on February 25 to continue development of guidance on regulated flood frequency analysis.

Martin Becker expressed a concern that the members of the regulated flow frequency group were spending an inordinate amount of time at their meetings addressing policy issues.  He requested that the various agencies who send representatives do so with the instruction to its representatives to focus on developing the best technical approach possible, and allow the policy issues regarding the ultimate use of the approach to be addressed by the SOH.

Report of the Workgroup on Hydrologic Modeling:

Don Frevert provided the final report for the Second Federal Interagency Hydrologic Modeling Conference.

There were a total of 320 paid registrants (294 at full price and 26 at the student rate).  Additionally, 25 participants received complimentary registration including NSF supported participants, AV assistants and dignitaries.   Sixteen spouses participated.

A total of 109 participants attended short courses before and after the conference and 39 participated in field trips to Hoover Dam and Las Vegas Wash.

A set of complimentary proceedings is being sent to each subcommittee member organization and special orders are being accommodated from the Corps of Engineers and BLM.

It is anticipated that another conference of this type will be held in the future, but no date has been set. Many members of the workgroup have indicated a comfort with continuing at a four year time interval. Members of the workgroup will be encouraged to remain active, but at least a couple of members are likely to retire so there is certain to be some loss of corporate experience.

Ideas for Issues to Address Over the Next Two Years:

Mike Grimm asked that all members consider ideas for issues that the subcommittee should address over the next two years.  Mike also passed out a handout which included six of the major functions of the subcommittee.  This handout will be useful as members formulate ideas for future priorities. 

Action:  Members should send their ideas to Mike in advance of the next subcommittee meeting.

Multi-hazard Mapping Initiative Demonstration:

Scott McAffee of FEMA shared information on the new technology being developed by Baker and Associates in conjunction with the other FEMA contractors.  Capabilities include presentation of “hydrologic layers” and a geospatial one step data portal is also included.  Flood modeling capabilities will be added.  Federal agencies and the general public will be able to plug into this.

Action:  Scott McAffee will send out a hard copy of his presentation to all participants.

Defenders of Property Rights Presentation:

Martin Becker introduced Bob Harrison DPR’s Director of Legislative Affairs who also represents Boeing Autometric.  Bob described a visualization platform developed by Boeing called “EDGE”.  The EDGE platform receives digitized data and presents it in pictorial form – helping decision makers better visualize issues and tradeoffs.   EDGE has been used for drought visualization and can be made available to member organizations if they are interested.  Boeing Autometric maintains a website at:

http://www.autometric.com/

Bob offered to arrange for a demonstration at the next subcommittee meeting.

Action:   Martin Becker will send out the website for EDGE to the group.

Action:   Bob Harrison will arrange for the demonstration at the next subcommittee meeting.

Agency and Organization Announcements and Reports:

FERC:

FERC regulates more than 2,600 hydropower projects across the nation.  Hydrologic safety is one of major safety concerns for those dams.   FERC has contracted out staff's HEC GeoHMS training with Professor Arthur Miller for this March at Penn State University.  This is part of FERC's efforts to keep staff updated with newly developed technology. 

A current site‑specific PMP Study is undertaken for E. J. West Project in New York State. The project watershed is located within the stipple region of HMR 51 where the orographic effect is not considered and thus the PMP value is usually overly conservative.  The study purpose is to provide PMP values for determining the corresponding PMFs and to check if the existing spillway capacity of the Stewarts Bridge dam just below E. J. West Project can accommodate the PMFs.  If the spillway capacity is inadequate, then appropriate remediation is required to ensure dam safety. Other two FERC approved PMP Studies in the NE Region of US are Harriman Dam (VT/MA) in 1987 and Upper & Middle Dam(ME) in 2002.

BLM:

Effective 1-26-03, Eric Janes will be transitioning to a Colorado duty station and will continue to serve as the national program leader for BLM’s Soil, Water and Air program, from Colorado.  By the week of Feb. 10 he expects to be in business at the San Juan Public Lands Center at Durango.  Eric’s e-mail address will not change.  His contact information is:

    Eric B. Janes (eric_b_janes@blm.gov)
    Sr. Hydrologist, Rangelands, Soil, Water & Air Group
    USFS/BLM/San Juan Public Lands Center
    15 Burnett Court
    Durango, Colorado 81301
    Tel:  (970)-385-1346
    Fax:  (970)-385-1375

NRCS:

Current hydrology and related activities include:

1. HECRAS model is being deployed in NRCS, training sessions in user and advanced are underway.

2. SITES computer program (latest version and the user manual) earthen spillway analysis program is available at the NRCS NWCC website http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/water/quality/common/sites/sites.html

3. WinTR-55 and WinTR-20 computer programs (Original and latest Beta versions with user manuals) are available also at the same website http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/water/quality/common/tr20/tr20.html

4. Considering future transition from monolithic complex models to modular type of modeling.  Collaborating currently with USGS and ARS building an operational prototype system called Object Modeling System (OMS) which will be functional on the NRCS’s web based electronic technology / information / conservation planning system.  NRCS is also participating in the Interagency Steering Committee on Multi-Media Environmental Modeling with the COE, EPA, NRC, USGS, ARS and others.

5. Internal engineering items:

   • Beginning 3 year study on outsourcing portion of agency functions under A-76

   • Writing rules and implementing a program to utilize Technical Service Providers (non-federal providers) to implement programs under the recent Farm Bill.

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION:

NASA and USBR are embarking on a three year cooperative effort entitled “The use of NASA land data assimilated products to improve flood and drought risk analysis and forecasting for water resource management in the Upper Columbia Basin”.   The project will be funded at the level of $437,897 over three years. It seeks to apply the latest emerging NASA data assimilation systems in S&T developed decision support tools: RiverWare and the ET Toolbox, to improve water supply and demand forecasts in extreme events, and enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and safety of water operations.  This effort builds on current Watershed and River System Management Program research in the Columbia Basin.  Principal investigators in this effort are Kristi Arsenault and Paul Houser, at NASA Goddard and Curt Hartzell and Dave Matthews at USBR.

NOAA’s Office of Global Programs awarded a $210,000 three year contract to USBR and NASA to fund a project entitled: “Improved water demand forecasting for water resource managers”.  It will focus on improved water demand forecasting in the Upper Rio Grande basin using the North American Land Data Assimilation System developed by NASA, NOAA, DOE, and several university teams.  The study will examine better techniques to estimate consumptive use by crops and riparian vegetation using the ET Toolbox and the Upper Rio Grande Water Operations Model. Principal investigators in this effort are Kristi Arsenault and Paul Houser, at NASA Goddard and Curt Hartzell and Dave Matthews at USBR.

FEMA:

Kevin Long will be FEMA’s new alternate member.

FEMA is making the transition to being part of the new Department of Homeland Security.  The Mapping Division is going through a reprocurement process.

NWS:

Tom Donaldson will be the new alternate member of the subcommittee for NWS.

Next Meeting:

The next meeting will be held on April 24, 2003.   The location and time will be finalized in the coming weeks.  A short tour of the Boeing facilities will be available after the meeting for those who are interested.

The possibility of holding the July meeting in Denver or some other western site was discussed, but no firm plans were made.

Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned at 12:00 pm.  An informal presentation on flood plain mapping and tour of the Michael Baker facilities followed the meeting.

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