1. NOAA’s NWS and the USGS: Partnering to Meet America’s Water Information Needs Dr. Thomas Graziano Chief, Hydrologic Services Division NOAA National Weather Service April 15, 2011

2. Long History of Collaboration NOAA and USGS held their 132 nd quarterly coordination meeting on 10 February 2011NOAA and USGS held their 132 nd quarterly coordination meeting on 10 February 2011 First interagency coordination meeting over 35 years agoFirst interagency coordination meeting over 35 years ago NOAA values partnership and the USGS’ long history of responsiveness and professionalismNOAA values partnership and the USGS’ long history of responsiveness and professionalism

3. Complimentary Missions NOAA's NWS provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings… for the protection of life and property…NOAA's NWS provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings… for the protection of life and property… The USGS… provides reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth, minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters, manage water…The USGS… provides reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth, minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters, manage water…

4. USGS Data Vital to NWS Operations USGS data critical to the NWS river forecast and warning mission include: Real-time and historical stream gage observationsReal-time and historical stream gage observations Real-time supplementary stream observations during flood eventsReal-time supplementary stream observations during flood events River/stream channel cross-sectionsRiver/stream channel cross-sections

5. USGS data critical to the NWS river forecast and warning mission include: Rating curves relating flow to stageRating curves relating flow to stage High resolution topographic dataHigh resolution topographic data Post-flood assessments (high water marks)Post-flood assessments (high water marks) USGS Data Vital to NWS Operations

6. Serving America Together NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) Products rely on USGS data http://weather.gov/ USGS Streamgage Observations

7. Serving America Together http://weather.gov/

8. Continuous monitoring of rainfall with comparison to flash flood guidance for high resolution stream basinsContinuous monitoring of rainfall with comparison to flash flood guidance for high resolution stream basins Basin data set developed by NOAA in collaboration with USGSBasin data set developed by NOAA in collaboration with USGS Alerts forecasters when a dangerous flash flood situation may be developingAlerts forecasters when a dangerous flash flood situation may be developing 30 minute increase in flash flood warning lead time over past seven years30 minute increase in flash flood warning lead time over past seven years Flash Flood Decision Assistance AHPS Flash Flood Monitoring and Prediction (FFMP)

9. Enhancing the Communication of Flood Risk Partnered Flood Inundation Mapping Methodology developed by USGS and NWS Display spatial extent and depth of flood water Maps for levels ranging from minor flooding through record flood Better mitigate the impacts of flooding and build more resilient communities Libraries include NWS flood severity categories and regulatory FEMA flood frequency events water.weather.gov

10. Growing Water Issues Too Much, Too Little, Poor Quality Growing need for water resource forecasts: Population growth and economic development are stressing water supplies and increasing vulnerabilityPopulation growth and economic development are stressing water supplies and increasing vulnerability A changing climate is impacting water availability and qualityA changing climate is impacting water availability and quality Socio-economic risks of floods and droughts are escalatingSocio-economic risks of floods and droughts are escalating Decision-makers in water management sectors need: Expanded/new high resolution information in space and timeExpanded/new high resolution information in space and time Quantification of uncertainty to manage riskQuantification of uncertainty to manage risk Enhanced communication of flood riskEnhanced communication of flood risk

11. Framework to align and leverage multiple agencies with complimentary water-related missions to: Integrate services and service deliveryIntegrate services and service delivery Improve river and flood forecastsImprove river and flood forecasts Provide new summit-to-sea water resources analyses and forecastsProvide new summit-to-sea water resources analyses and forecasts ROADMAP DOCUMENT (2009) 11 Expanding our Partnership Integrated Water Resources Science and Services (IWRSS)

12. Conventional Flood Forecast New Digital Information Products IWRSS Dynamic Flood Inundation Forecast

13. National Water Center Addressing IWRSS Objectives Combine hydrologic forecasting operations and research to fill several critical gaps: 13 Provide new high-resolution forecasts of water resource variables to help decision makers better manage water Extend river and flood forecasting to provide maps showing forecasted spatial extent and depth of flooding Integrate water resources information to provide one-stop shopping for stakeholders (Federal Toolbox) Establish multi-agency proving ground to leverage capabilities and accelerate R2O Establish Common Operating Picture University of Alabama IOC Spring 2014