One of the HPM duties is compiling a Hydrologic Services Manual (HSM). Updating the HSM is also a tool to familiarize yourself with the hydrology program in your Hydrologic Service Area (HSA).

Format

Use the format outlined in NWSI 10-925 as a template for the HSM. This keeps your office’s hydrologic program in compliance with national standards. Preferably, the office has a copy of an existing document to use as a starting point.

Locating Information

Look through your office’s storage area for books and journal articles on hydrologic and geographic features in the HSA. Many offices also have clipping files, which are a source of information on historic floods.

Visit public libraries and media outlets for information on historic floods and any flood mitigation projects, such as reservoirs or greenway development

Consult with hydrologic partners, such as the USGS, for information on historic floods and insight on the seasonal variation of floods.

If your HSA has a university with an Atmospheric Sciences department, obtain copies of papers or studies on mesoscale and local features associated with flooding and regional climatology. Hydrology (typically a branch of the Engineering Department) and Geology departments can provide information on surface and groundwater features.

Sharing the HSM

Ensure the staff at your WFO, backup offices, the regional office, and servicing RFCs can access the HSM. Share the HSM on the office intranet, a shared regional directory, or application such as SharePoint.

Keep a copy of the HSM near the operations area for easy reference. You need to remove the HSM from the office in the event of evacuation.

Best Practices: Save an editable version of the HSM on an off-site server in case of damage to the original copy. Maintain out-of-date copies of the HSM for five years.