PARTICIPATING:

Tom Donaldson, National Weather Service
Tom Graziano, National Weather Service
Mike Grimm, Federal Emergency Management Agency
Kevin Long, Federal Emergency Management Agency
Martin Becker, Defenders of Property Rights
Don Frevert, US Bureau of Reclamation
Rocky Durrans, University of Alabama
Tom Zembrzuski, US Geological Survey
Kate Flynn, US Geological Survey
Eric Janes, Bureau of Land Management (by phone hookup)
David Wells, Environmental Protection Agency
Myra Price, Environmental Protection Agency
Sam Lin, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Bill Merkel, Natural Resource Conservation Service
Gene Stallings, National Hydrologic Warning Council
Don Woodward, American Forests
David Wingerd, Corps of Engineers
Al Powell, Boeing Corporation
Tom Becherer, Boeing Corporation
Phillip Zuzolo, Boeing Corporation
Jon Liversedge, Boeing Corporation

SUMMARY OF MEETING:

Mike Grimm called the meeting to order.

The meeting agenda was approved.

The minutes of the January 23 subcommittee meeting have been updated and posted on the subcommittee's website.

CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR REPORTS:

Mike Grimm reported that he has accepted another position within FEMA and that he will not be able to continue as Chair of the subcommittee. Mike's association with the subcommittee will end with this meeting and the subcommittee expressed their appreciation to Mike for his service and leadership.

Don Frevert said that he would be willing to serve the remainder of Mike's term as chair of the subcommittee - provided that a vice chair is selected.

The subcommittee informally agreed that Don Frevert would serve out the remainder of Mike Grimm's term as chair and that nominations for a new vice chair would be submitted to Don by e-mail on or before May 30. These actions will be formally considered at the next meeting.

REPORT OF THE HYDROLOGIC FREQUENCY ANALYSIS WORKGROUP:

Rocky Durrans reported that the guidelines for regulated frequency analysis are now being drafted and that the workgroup needs guidance from the subcommittee in regard to skew estimates, issues related to differing lengths of record and estimation of low return interval events.

Rocky suggested that a limited, unfunded study be pursued which would cover a single state and demonstrate these issues and potential solutions. The subcommittee agreed to this approach.

The FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) have been posted on the subcommittee website and are open to comments.

The paper on Flood Frequency Estimates for Ungaged Watersheds is to be forwarded to ACWI along with a minority report with the explanation that the paper is the position accepted by the subcommittee.

Mike Grimm researched the question of whether the subcommittee needs to work through the Federal Register in regard to products such as these and found out that the subcommittee does not need to work through the Federal Register - although ACWI does. This means a correction will need to be made to the subcommittee's terms of reference.

Action: Don Woodward will formulate a set of revised wording for the terms of reference. The subcommittee will consider the revised wording at its next meeting.

REPORT OF THE WORKGROUP ON HYDROLOGIC MODELING:

Don Frevert reported that the Hydrologic Modeling Workgroup is planning to hold the next Hydrologic Modeling Conference in 2006. Consideration will be given to holding a workshop in late 2004 to scope out issues for the 2006 conference.

In a previous meeting, the subcommittee agreed to provide two complimentary copies of the proceedings from the 2002 conference to each member organization.

Action: George Leavesley will send out the complimentary copies.

AGENCY AND ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS:

FEMA:

FEMA is now part of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate under the new Department of Homeland Security.

A new multi-year flood mapping contract is going to be awarded as part of a $150 million dollar budget for map modernization.

The new FEMA representatives on the subcommittee will be designated by Mike Grimm's successor.

NWS:

Tom Graziano reported that Glenn Austin is on a four month detail as Chief of the Public Fire Weather Division. Tom Graziano and Tom Donaldson will serve as the NWS representatives to the subcommittee during Glenn's absence.

NWS' Advanced Hydrologic Prediction System (AHPS) has been funded at a $6 million per year level. This matched the NWS funding request.

NRCS:

Bill Merkel provided the report for NRCS.

The drought situation is of major concern for this year in the midwest and mountain west. Below average snow packs have been reported at many sites in the western states.

A web site to get the latest data, water supply forecasts, and drought status is http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/wsf/

Since January 1, 2003, there have been an average of 4,000 visits per day to the web site. The most popular subject for inquiry is snow data measurements (SNOTEL). There is much more information available at that web site. The general website is http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/.

A web site for drought information and status is http://www.drought.unl.edu/

USDA has already given significant assistance to farmers and ranchers. More is expected this year. Some of the hardest hit areas are rangelands where ranchers rely on precipitation and snowmelt to provide water for vegetation growth. This impacts size of herds which may be supported.

Areas in the western states relying on surface water depend on snowmelt and stream flow forecasts to plan and operate. Areas relying on groundwater must make up the shortfalls by increasing pumping rates in many cases further depleting the groundwater supply.

NRCS National Water and Climate Center is proposing converting 1200 manual measured snow courses to automatic telemetry (SNOTEL) and addition of about 2000 sites for measuring soil moisture and local weather data on near real time basis.

Drought is a major concern of the USDA Secretary Veneman as well as midwest and western governors. We look for increased publicity, increased aid to farmers and ranchers, and increased funding for drought related technology and data collection.

FERC:

Sam Lin reported for FERC.

In recent years, FERC has reviewed more and more PMF/PMP study reports associated with distributed watershed modeling. A typical example is the application of NRCS' GIS­based STATSGO soil type database for infiltration loss estimate. Therefore, FERC has put some effort into keeping up with the current GIS­based hydrologic modeling technology. For instance, FERC recently sent staff to learn GIS and/or the distributed watershed modeling system (WMS) program from in-house classes and an American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) sponsored workshop. These efforts will continue.

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION:

Don Frevert reported that the Bureau of Reclamation and USGS will be continuing their cooperative efforts toward improved river basin modeling and management in the western United States. Funding to continue this long standing effort is being sought as part of the Western Water Initiative.

BOR is also involved in a cooperative effort to share technology with the Public Works Research Institute (PWRI) in Japan. Annual workshops have been held for several years and the next workshop is scheduled for July in Japan - subject to travel approval. USGS is involved in a parallel cooperative effort with PWRI.

CORPS OF ENGINEERS:

Dave Wingerd reported that the Everglades project is proceeding. The Corps Water Management System (CWMS) model was deployed earlier this year.

Jerry Webb has recently reported to the Corps' Washington office. Arlen Feldman, the Corps' alternate representative on the subcommittee, may be retiring later this year.

USGS:

Tom Zembrzuski provided a handout summarizing the status of the USGS stream gaging program. A level budget is projected for USGS' FY 2004 funding of this activity, however budget reductions faced by some state and local cooperators make downsizing of the program a possibility.

An enhanced Water Watch web page is now on line. A sample map of streamflow conditions for March, 2003 was also provided as part of Tom's handout.

The Office of Surface Water's web page has been updated and can be accessed at: http://water.usgs.gov/osw/

NATIONAL HYDROLOGIC WARNING COUNCIL:

Gene Stallings reported that the next National Hydrologic Warning Council Conference will be October 22-24, 2003 in Dallas. The National Hydrologic Warning Council and the Association of State Floodplain Managers are looking into opportunities to work together more closely.

EPA:

Myra Price reported that EPA will be hosting the National Forum on Water Quality Training in Chicago during July. A more technical follow up forum will be hosted at a later date.

David Wells reported that EPA and USGS are continuing their collaboration on water quality data bases. Other areas of emphasis include DFLOW, the BASINS model and AQUATOX.

NEXT MEETING:

The next meeting will be held on Thursday morning, August 7th in Denver. Don Frevert will provide details including the meeting location and draft agenda in advance of the meeting.

Action: Gene Stallings and Don Frevert will look into possibilities for an afternoon presentation or demonstration.

ADJOURNMENT:

The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 am. A presentation on Boeing's EDGE package and other GIS and modeling capabilities followed the meeting.

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