Watershed Data System: Overview Jean L. Steiner, E. John Sadler, Jin-Song Chen Greg Wilson, David James, Bruce Vandenberg John Ross, Teri Oster, Kevin Cole ARS: El Reno, OK; Columbia, MO; Beltsville, MD; Ames, IA: Fort Collins, CO

ARS Watershed Research USDA has conducted watershed research since early 1900’s Many watersheds are still operational Data managed locally and disseminated independently Accessibility has limited visibility and utility of these data

CEAP Team 1 Goal To develop and implement a web-based data system to organize, document, manipulate, and compile climate, water, soil, land-management, and socio-economic data from ARS research watersheds for assessment of conservation practices and other hydrologic analyses

Data Management System ArcGIS 9.2 Search Engine Visualization Tools Clients Data ProvidersCentral Site ARS users Research users Public users Web Browsers: Netscape Internet Explorer FireFox Build data definition tables Build data files Create metadata files Upload to FTP site STEWARDS Architecture Software Developer Network Administrator DB Administrator DB Designers/Team 1

Challenges Data not uniform across (or within) sites No single organizational unit has necessary knowledge, skill set or mandate Communication within heterogeneous team Competing demands on time for all team members Uncertain funding beyond annual budgets

Unique aspects of system Flexible to accept highly heterogeneous data Ability to capture and communicate rich descriptive data Bringing time-series and other measurement data into spatial context SiteID, DateTime, and Watershed ID as primary keys

Software Interface

Typical Watershed Data Descriptive data Watershed Descriptions Site Descriptions Spatial data (and metadata) Watershed boundary Digital elevation, streams, soils, land use, etc. Sites Measurement data (and methods) Climate, hydrology, water chemistry, sediment, etc Land management, conservation practices, soils, etc. Biological assessment, economic data, etc.

Tools for preparing data tables Access templates Query Scripts Data table construction tool Method Table Builder Parameter Description Builder

Implement System Design; Release For Alpha Test to Development Team System Requirements System Design Metadata Requirements Develop Prototype Systems Refine based on Alpha Findings, Release to CEAP Watersheds for Beta Test Refine based on Beta Findings, Public Release July, 2007 Winter, 2007/8

Beta Release July, 2007 Implemented with data from some ARS Benchmark Watersheds (cropland) Data preparation and uploading ongoing Training on data preparation ongoing Available to CEAP research team On-line user’s manual, technical documents will be provided

Version 1 Release By Spring, 2008 Will be implemented with data from ARS Benchmark Watersheds (cropland) Will be available to public access On-line user’s manual, technical documents will be provided STEWARDS will be publicized through conferences, journals and web sites

Keys to success Integrated, iterative approach Accepting ambiguity and uncertainty Careful definition of priorities considering available resources Open communication, respect Trust Shared commitment to mission Strong support from agency and within CEAP team

Ongoing efforts Data preparation and upload Long-term operational plan Long-term management structure Researchers, operations, leadership Meeting diverse expectations of diverse users

Challenges within ARS Lack of IT support system for national program and multisite research programs. Inconsistent data management skills within research units Lack of peer network across research data managers

Accomplishments STEWARDS system developed on schedule, according to requirements, within resource limits Innovative partnerships within agency and externally established Three journal manuscripts in review or preparation

Mission To provide access to data and analytical tools to facilitate multidimensional watershed research and conduct analyses to support individual-, organization-, and policy-level decision making

Parameter Descriptions Parameter Name, [modifier], medium, [temporal resolution], [summary statistic], units Temperature, air, degrees Celsius Temperature, air, maximum, degrees Celsius Temperature, air, minimum, degrees Celsius Wind direction, air, degrees clockwise from true north Humidity, relative humidity, air, percent Discharge, water, cubic feet per second degrees C degrees percent m 3 /sec