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Water Data and Science Committee Webinar–March 30, 2021–Demo of updated Drought.gov website

  1. Call to Order—Chair Amy Shallcross DRBC called to order at 10:03 a.m. Central. 
  • Introductions of Participants on the call: Amy Shallcross, Chair; Sue Lowry; Mark Matlock; Owen Mills; Ed Swaim; Brian Atkins; Brian Chalfant; Lyndsey Henley; James Horton; Randy Hadland; Brian Shepard; Shawn Jackson; Matt Unruh; Kristina Peacock-Jones; Joy Loughry; Wayne Slade; Wade Loseman; Rhonda Manning; Katie Goff; Luigi Romolo; Christopher Estes; Josh Weiss; Jennifer Schellpeper; Ken Brazil Meagan Rivera, Elizabeth Ossowski; Kelsey Satalino. 
  • Webinar presentation—Demo of Drought.gov update-Elizabeth Ossowski, NIDIS Program Coordinator & Kelsey Satalino, NIDIS Digital Communications Coordinator.  Elizabeth provided some background on the development of NIDIS and the first drought portal was launched in 2008.  No significant re-design has ben made until this complete re-design, even tho NIDIS was reauthorized in both 2014 and 2019.  NIDIS is interested in knowing if there are additional tools or ways of displaying data that would be useful and would welcome comments and suggestions at drought.portal@noaa.gov

Kelsey then provided a live demonstration of the new site, highlighting new information by sector, by region and the ability to browse at multiple scales.  She described the Water Reservoir Data Visualizi5on Tool and answered questions about how water supply takes into account water in storage.  The site can be found at https://www.drought.gov

  • Internship—Caroline Schwab working on WD&S topics, including updating the one-page USGS Fact Sheet from 2018.
  • Workplan development for the Committee
    • Workplan list – Principle Statement on Atlas 14/Extreme Precipitation has been suggested by L & P committee. 
    • Future meeting topics discussed:
      • USACE Modeling
      • USACE Climate Work Groups and Water Budget Work (Brian)
      • USACE Groundwater management/research team (Amy)
      • Minnesota State Climatology Office (Joy)
  • Roundtable Topics Germane to this Committee—Sue briefly went through the Roundtable agenda and the agencies that will be represented. 
  • Other items for the Committee’s consideration and other Committee activities
    • Support for NOAA-NWS Atlas 14—FLOODS and PRECIP legislation
    • NOAA Seasonal to Sub-Seasonal Forecasting—Congressional report and pilots—Appropriations request sent
    • Supporting NHD Plus and other mapping efforts—Vicki Lukas will be speaking at the Roundtable
    • 2021 Streamgaging support letter—Circulating for final signatures
  • Next call or webinar—Gary Whelan–Presentation on National Fish Habitat Partnership—May 4 at 2 p.m. Central 

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:

Issues for 2021 Workplan

  1. Potential ICWP Support of USGS Efforts
    1. USGS NGWOS—including future basin selections
    1. Water-Use Data and Research—Review next USGS compilations
    1. IWAA indices that make sense as indicators (Mindi request at Mobile)
    1. Review of NAS Study on USGS Water Discipline
    1. Multi-Signature support letter for Streamgaging Programs (annually)
      1. Early spring letter signed by stakeholders
      1. Letter in the fall signed by states/interstates/tribes
      1. Improved coordination among 3 USGS support letters from coalitions
  2. Climate/Weather Extremes/Drought
    1. Flash Droughts
    1. NIDIS/NDRP—Support baseline, firm funding source for US Drought Monitor
    1. Support for a 2nd product similar to USDM specific to ag relief programs
    1. Support for expansion of Drought Impacts Reporter
    1. Baseline for determining Climate Change
      1. Impacts to Infrastructure planning
    1. Paleo-drought studies
  3. Other items the Committee could explore:
    1. Internet of Water
    1. Data Portals/Data Exchange
    1. Support for NRCS Snow Survey Program
    1. NFHP—Ask Gary Whelan for presentation on Partnership model and tool development.  Interagency federal team to be determined this year.
  4. National Water Model Priorities
    1. Especially understanding the underlying models and how those could be used by others
    1. Support for NHDPlusHR and its modeling capabilities—add to 3DEP Coalition letter in 2021
  5. Tracking of Emerging Tools or Trends in Water Data/Science
    1. Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations
    1. Seasonal to Sub-Seasonal Forecasting
    1. NASA Western Water Office—Adel will keep the committee apprised of any activities of interest beyond the western states. 

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