ACWI 2004 ACTION ITEMS

Opening Remarks Lynn Scarlett, Interior’s Asst. for Policy, Management and Budget ! ACWI is part of a larger spectrum of conversation ! GAO Report on Watershed Management GAO Report on Watershed Management Report of U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy Report of U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy CEQ Response to Ocean Report ― to create a National Monitoring Network CEQ Response to Ocean Report ― to create a National Monitoring Network Executive Order on Cooperative Conservation Executive Order on Cooperative Conservation CEQ Effort on Environmental Indicators CEQ Effort on Environmental Indicators

Opening Remarks This Committee’s Charge: Help us achieve better coordination Help us achieve better coordination Identify information sources ― Identify information sources ― What’s important and relevant What’s important and relevant Improve access to information Improve access to information

Public Statements Emery Cleaves on behalf of ACWI members Association of American State Geologists : ********************************************************* Lack of Federal appropriated matching dollars for the USGS Cooperative Water Program.

Action Items GAO Report on Watershed Mgt. Lead Entity for Data Coordination What action should ACWI/NWQMC take? Volunteers from ACWI members to draft response: Don Dycus, TVA Emery Cleaves, AASG Steven Heiskary, NALMS Gregg Good, ASIWPCA

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS IN RESPONSE TO GAO REPORT 1) Is ACWI/Council right coordinating mechanism? Yes 2) If yes, do we want to say “go”? Yes 3) As ACWI (Council)? Yes 4) What authorities/resources/other are needed to succeed? (TBD) 5) Do we want to provide information to Congressman Duncan? Yes

Letter from ACWI to Congr. Working group drafted ACWI position statement. Working group drafted ACWI position statement. ACWI members discussed. ACWI members discussed. ACWI agreed to the following next steps: ACWI agreed to the following next steps: Turn Position Statement into a Letter Turn Position Statement into a Letter Letter should be to Duncan/his committee Letter should be to Duncan/his committee Toni/Bob to add several small changes to letter Toni/Bob to add several small changes to letter

GAO Report Changes to letter: Changes to letter: ACWI has read GAO Report and discussed it with GAO ACWI has read GAO Report and discussed it with GAO ACWI has existing authority – OMB Memo M ; Presidential Advisory Committee under Federal Advisory Committee Act. ACWI has existing authority – OMB Memo M ; Presidential Advisory Committee under Federal Advisory Committee Act. GAO identified several important areas and we are making progress…tbd… GAO identified several important areas and we are making progress…tbd…

GAO Report Small group of joint Fed and non-Fed members of ACWI would prepare briefing for Duncan…TBD Small group of joint Fed and non-Fed members of ACWI would prepare briefing for Duncan…TBD

Methods Board - WQDE Letter from MDCB to ACWI on status and next steps for Biological and Toxicological WQDE Letter from MDCB to ACWI on status and next steps for Biological and Toxicological WQDE Latest two lists provided at meeting and on Web Site Latest two lists provided at meeting and on Web Site Proposed schedule between now and Thanksgiving for MDCB to get WQDE Guidelines draft report to ACWI for review. Proposed schedule between now and Thanksgiving for MDCB to get WQDE Guidelines draft report to ACWI for review.

Methods Board - WQDE ACWI agreed to follow schedule for review of two WQDE lists and review of WQDE Guide to be published as Council Report after review period. ACWI agreed to follow schedule for review of two WQDE lists and review of WQDE Guide to be published as Council Report after review period. Conference call will be scheduled if needed for discussion. Conference call will be scheduled if needed for discussion. Final ACWI approval will be confirmed by vote. Final ACWI approval will be confirmed by vote.

Methods Board - COD ACWI members received letter from MDCB plus copy of COD Pilot Report ACWI members received letter from MDCB plus copy of COD Pilot Report ACWI approved COD Pilot Report to be published as Council Technical Report. ACWI approved COD Pilot Report to be published as Council Technical Report.

Subcommittee on Hydrology ACWI received resolution from SOH on support of National Streamflow Information Program. ACWI received resolution from SOH on support of National Streamflow Information Program. ACWI concurred with resolution as written. ACWI concurred with resolution as written.

Subcommittee on Sediment ACWI received resolution on from SOS on endorsement of importance/need for Reservoir Database. ACWI received resolution on from SOS on endorsement of importance/need for Reservoir Database. Discussion indicated SOS should be sensitive to/clarify issues regarding: Discussion indicated SOS should be sensitive to/clarify issues regarding: Water security (whether could be on line) Water security (whether could be on line) Water rights issues Water rights issues ACWI approved resolution: ACWI approved resolution: Motion was made by Emery and seconded by Will Thomas; all approved.

Action Items CEQ Response to Ocean Commission Report What they want: Design strategy & framework for a National Water Monitoring Network Design strategy & framework for a National Water Monitoring Network Design a pilot of the NWMN for the Gulf of Mexico Design a pilot of the NWMN for the Gulf of Mexico Framework transferable to National Scale Framework transferable to National Scale

Action Items CEQ Response to Ocean Commission Report What they want: Build on the work of the Nutrient Task Force Build on the work of the Nutrient Task Force Build on existing networks of multiple levels of government (Fed,State,Local…) Build on existing networks of multiple levels of government (Fed,State,Local…) Design NWMN to link to the Integrated Ocean Observing Network (IOOS) Design NWMN to link to the Integrated Ocean Observing Network (IOOS)

Action Items CEQ Response to Ocean Commission Report Time Frame: Provide an interim report Provide an interim report Complete tasks by January 2006 Complete tasks by January 2006

Action Items CEQ Response to Ocean Commission Report Receive refined task from CEQ by December 2004 Receive refined task from CEQ by December 2004 Provide interim report Provide interim report Complete task by January 2006 Complete task by January 2006