# Presentation: 485741

## ACWI 2004

- ACTION ITEMS

## Opening RemarksLynn Scarlett

*Information is everywhere, but knowledge is rare !*
- ? Which information is needed ?
- ? How to access relevant information ?
- ? How to coordinate different information sources?
- ! ACWI is positioned in the center to answer these questions !

## Opening Remarks

*! ACWI is part of a larger *
*spectrum of conversation !*
- GAO Report on Watershed Management
- Report of U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy
- CEQ Response to Ocean Report ― to create a 	*National Monitoring Network*
- Executive Order on *Cooperative Conservation*
- CEQ Effort on Environmental Indicators

## Opening Remarks

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

## Commitments Made

- Question to EPA:
- 	Funding for Research Grants vs.
- 	Funding for research by EPA ?
- Respond to Robert Goldstein
- Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)

## Public Statements

- Emery Cleaves on behalf of ACWI member
- 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

- Is ACWI/Council right coordinating mechanism?  Yes
- If yes, do we want to say “go”?   Yes
- As ACWI (Council)?   Yes
- What authorities/resources/other are needed to succeed? (TBD)
- Do we want to provide information to Congressman Duncan?  Yes

## Letter from ACWI to Congr.

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

- Changes to letter:
- ACWI has read GAO Report and discussed it with GAO
- ACWI has existing authority – OMB Memo M-92-01; Presidential Advisory Committee under Federal Advisory Committee Act.
- GAO identified several important areas and we are making progress...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
- 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.

## 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.
- Conference call will be scheduled if needed for discussion.
- Final ACWI approval will be confirmed by email vote.

## Methods Board - COD

- ACWI members received letter from MDCB plus copy of COD Pilot 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 concurred with resolution as written.

## Subcommittee on Sediment

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

## Response to GAO

## Action ItemsCEQ Response to Ocean Commission Report

***What we heard:***
**Tell them what they want**
**Do it in the Gulf of Mexico**
**Accept proposed task now**
**Complete by January 2006**

## Action ItemsCEQ Response to Ocean Commission Report

***What they want:***
**Design strategy & framework for a National Water Monitoring Network**
**Design a pilot of the NWMN for the Gulf of Mexico**
**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 existing networks of multiple levels of government (Fed,State,Local...)**
**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**
**Complete tasks by January 2006**

## Action ItemsCEQ Response to Ocean Commission Report

**Receive refined task from CEQ by December 2004**
**Provide interim report**
**Complete task by January 2006**