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Water Data and Science Committee Webinar–July 22, 2021–John Yagecic–DRBC Dashboards Using Real-time Data

Webinar Recording on ICWP’s YouTube Channel:  https://youtu.be/OzHed5N3jzc

  1. Call to Order—Chair Amy Shallcross DRBC—called to order at 2:02 p.m Central
  • Introductions of Participants on the call –Amy Shallcross, Chair; Sue Lowry; joy Loughry; Tom Littlepage; Ken Brazil; Jeff Cowley; Eric Robinson; John Banks; Drew Dehoff; Ryan James; Brian Atkins; Shawn Jackson; Wes Cattoor; Jim Schneider; John Yagecic; Josh Burns; Wade Loseman. 
  •  Webinar — Presentation on “DRBC Dashboards, Assessments and Models: How we use continuous real-time data”—John Yagecic, DRBC, Manager, Water Quality Assessment

John’s full SLIDE DECK can be found HERE.  as a pdf (watch the YouTube recording above for full animation).  DRCB Dashboards—usually want to know what conditions are right now, whereas a report tells you what it was.  Can enter in limits, such as Water Quality standards and then link current data to alert when over the goal amount. Spill early warning; can’t wait until the spill occurs—need to have background data already loaded, including AHPS forecasted flow. Spills can happen in the estuary as well as upstream.  Can indicate where the spill occurred and then model will show the dilution affect at each HUC12 basin downstream.   Can then reach out to water users in those HUCs with an estimate of what the concentrations will be when the plume arrives.  HEC RAS was used to create a visualization to see what habitat goes from submerged to dry during an event.  Made possible through scripted processing.  R or Python.  HEC RAS mapper made pulling the Lidar data in fairly easy. 

  • ICWP Annual Meeting—October 12-14—WD&S Panels/Topics— The preliminary agenda and registration information is now up on the ICWP website.  Several topics of interest to this committee will be presented during Infrastructure and Tools/Data panels.  
  • Report out of other ICWP committee activities –Trans-basin Diversion issues. — Work jointly with Interstate Water Management on inter-basin transfer topics?  Drew mentioned that the ICWP Board had discussed the general topic of interstate and Interbasin transfers and that ICWP could hold informational webinars on the subject during Interstate Water Management committee meetings, starting this fall. 
  • Workplan development for the Committee
    • Workplan list – Review suggested edits sent on 7/19—Committee members were asked to take a look at the workplan changes that Sue sent and make any other suggested edits prior to the next WD&S meeting. 
    • What should the federal government put resources into tools that will help local water managers
    • any additional topics for developing Principle Statement
  • Other items for the Committee’s consideration 
    • Support for NOAA-NWS Atlas 14—FLOODS and PRECIP legislation—interest in scheduling an update on the status of these bills, maybe along with Legislation and Policy committee.  Not much moving now other than how to add to an infrastructure package. 
    • NOAA Seasonal to Sub-Seasonal Forecasting—Congressional report and pilots—Appropriations request sent
    • Supporting NHD Plus and other mapping efforts
    • 2021 Streamgaging support letter—Delivered mid-April
  • Recap of any action items—Please complete IFC request on training center needs by the Aug 6thdeadline.  Contact Sue if you need the link which was sent out earlier. 
  • Next call or webinar—Join Western States Water Council’s Water Information and Data Sub-committee presentations on Aug. 16 at 1 p.m. Central.  Topics include update on WaDE next version enhancements and Open ET.   Jeff Cowley agreed to find a speaker for later in September on OpenET. 

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.

2019/20 Accomplishments:

  • Letter supporting WUDR and requesting USGS analysis 
  • USGS Response on WUDR shared with ICWP members
  • Letter of Support of NWIS Modernization to Don Cline (USGS)
  • GOES Support letter to FCC

Issues for 2021 Workplan (Priority within 5 Topic Areas in order and Highest Priority in BOLD)

  1. Potential ICWP Support of USGS Efforts
    1. Multi-Signature support letter for Streamgaging Programs (annually)
      1. Early spring letter signed by stakeholders
      1. Continue coordination among 3 USGS support letters from coalitions
    1. USGS NGWOS—including future basin selections
    1. Water-Use Data and Research—Review next USGS compilations
    1. Provide input on water supply/forecasting modeling results
    1. Support for NHDPlusHR and its modeling capabilities—added to 3DEP Coalition letter in 2021
    1. IWAA indices that make sense as indicators (Mindi request at Mobile)
  • Climate/Weather Extremes/Drought
    • Baseline for determining Climate Change
      • Impacts to Infrastructure planning
    • 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
    • Flash Droughts
    • Paleo-drought studies
  • Tracking of Emerging Tools or Trends in Water Data/Science
    • Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations
    • National Water Model Priorities -Especially understanding the underlying models and how those could be used by others
    • Seasonal to Sub-Seasonal Forecasting
    • NASA Western Water Office—Adel will keep the committee apprised of any activities of interest beyond the western states. 
  • Other items the Committee could explore:
    • Internet of Water
    • Data Portals/Data Exchange
    • Support for NRCS Snow Survey Program
    • NFHP– Gary Whelan presented on Partnership model and tool development: follow activities of Interagency federal team 

Edits made to 2021 Workplan during July 22, 2021 Committee meeting