Water Data and Science Committee Meeting Summary August 26, 2020 Conference Call
- Call to Order—Chair Amy Shallcross DRBC. Amy called to order at 2:33 p.m. Central
- Introductions of Participants on the call Amy Shallcross, Sue Lowry, Adel Abdullah, Tom Littlepage, Matt Unruh; Joy Loughry; Wes Cattoor
- Any discussion from WUDR Forum presentation – This committee meeting was held immediately after one of the USGS WUDR Forum presentations. Those who were able to join felt that Virginia presented innovative information and the graduate student’s thesis which focused on improving the water supply/water use modeling contains much good information and more details on how the model was applied.
- WD&S panel for October 8, 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting
- States to invite for Panel presentations and discussion—Matt Unruh mentioned the work being done by the KS State Geological Survey. Matt will reach out to Texas for a speaker on their Flood decision support systems.
- Workplan development for the Committee
- Workplan list –review edits made in July. Amy mentioned that the ICWP Board had completed a Strategic Planning session earlier this week and will be asking each committee to develop a near (1-year) and longer term (3-5 years) platform of issues. Our existing list will be a good foundation for working on these platforms. Amy suggested the committee ask itself “How do we annually identify the emerging tolls related to Water Data and Science?”
- Review Statements of Principles—The Drought Statement developed by Tom Littlepage is supported by the committee and ready to go to the Board for their consideration. Amy still plans to develop a Statement on NGWOS.
- Other items for the Committee’s consideration
- Support for NOAA-NWS Atlas 14—wait until after next presentation to elucidate the ICWP position and any advocacy on this topic
- Supporting NHD Plus and other mapping efforts—will be incorporated into support letter of 3DEP coalition next year
- Next call or webinar—Nov. 4 at 2:30 p.m. Central time. Wes will invite a speaker from the Illinois Water Survey to discuss their extreme precip research
Water Data and Science Committee: Mission is to educate ICWP members on current data and science trends and to advocate support for data and science programs at the national level.
Issues for 2020 Workplan
- Potential ICWP Support of USGS Efforts
- USGS NGWOS—including future basin selections
- Water-Use Data and Research—Review next USGS compilations
- IWAA indices that make sense as indicators (Mindi request at Mobile)
- Review of NAS Study on USGS Water Discipline
- Multi-Signature support letter for Streamgaging Programs (annually)
- Early spring letter signed by stakeholders
- Letter in the fall signed by states/interstates/tribes
- Improved coordination among 3 USGS support letters from coalitions
- Climate/Weather Extremes/Drought
- Flash Droughts
- NIDIS/NDRP—Support baseline, firm funding source for US Drought Monitor
- Support for a 2nd product similar to USDM specific to ag relief programs
- Support for expansion of Drought Impacts Reporter
- Baseline for determining Climate Change
- Impacts to Infrastructure planning
- Paleo-drought studies
- Other items the Committee could explore:
- Internet of Water
- Data Portals/Data Exchange
- Support for NRCS Snow Survey Program
- National Water Model Priorities
- Especially understanding the underlying models and how those could be used by others
- Support for NHDPlusHR and its modeling capabilities—add to 3DEP Coalition letter in 2021
- Tracking of Emerging Tools or Trends in Water Data/Science
- Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations
- Seasonal to Sub-Seasonal Forecasting
- NASA Western Water Office—Adel will keep the committee apprised of any activities of interest beyond the western states.
Edits made to 2020 Workplan during July 30, 2020 Committee meeting