NOAA’s NWS and the USGS: Partnering to Meet America’s Water Information Needs Ernie Wells Hydrologic Services Division NOAA National Weather Service May 2, 2014

Complimentary Missions NOAA's NWS provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings… for the protection of life and property… and enhancement of the national economy.NOAA's NWS provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings… for the protection of life and property… and enhancement of the national economy. 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 On average, over the past 30 years in the U.S., flooding has caused over 90 deaths and damages in excess of $8 billion annually On average, over the past 30 years in the U.S., flooding has caused over 90 deaths and damages in excess of $8 billion annually Floods occur in all 50 states Floods occur in all 50 states Threat all months of the yearThreat all months of the year Socioeconomic Impacts

USGS Data Vital to NWS Operations USGS data critical to the NWS river forecast and warning mission include: Real-time and historical stream gage observations Real-time and historical stream gage observations Real-time supplementary stream observations during flood events Real-time supplementary stream observations during flood events Rating curves relating flow to stage Rating curves relating flow to stage

Radar Data River Gage Data Snow Precipitation Forecasts Reservoir Releases Diversion Precipitation Estimates Satellite Data Temperature Forecasts Hydrologic Forecasting

Serving America Together NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) Products rely on USGS data USGS Streamgage Observations

Serving America Together

9 Observe, monitor, detect, forecast and generate warning Disseminate warning Respond The Warning Process

Growing Water Challenges Population growth and economic development are stressing water supplies and increasing vulnerability A changing climate is impacting water availability and quality, increasing uncertainty An aging water infrastructure is forcing critical, expensive decisions Socio-economic risks of floods and droughts are escalating Blue Gold, “The New Oil” 10

WATER SECURITY HYPOXIAHYPOXIA HYDROLOGIC EXTREMES 11 Grand Challenges

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) 12 Expanding our Partnership Integrated Water Resources Science and Services (IWRSS)

Snowfall Snow Depth Water Content Snow Cover Temperature Snowmelt 13

Flood Inundation Mapping and Analysis Simulated flood for rise of 7.4 feet Blanchard River near Findlay OH inundation/