Hydrology Professional Development Series (PDS) 3 : Manage a Hydrology Program

PDS Statement of Responsibility : Manage the WFO hydrology program with integrated resources and tools to provide accurate and timely information for partners and the public.

Executive Producer(s):
Kate Abshire - Water Resources/Analysis, Forecast and Support Office/ NWS.

Description of the Area of Responsibility : In support of hydrologic forecast and warning operations, managing the WFO hydrology program ensures the integrity and relevancy of NWS hydrologic services for partners and users. The Hydrology Program Manager (HPM) provides WFO hydrologic leadership, expertise and outreach for flooding, drought, water supply and other local hydrologic issues. Duties are to build and maintain situational awareness and coordination between RFCs and partner agencies as well as maintain the local data program, conduct field work, and configure software. Responsibilities also include training staff to support delivery of NWS hydrologic information during normal and backup operations in addition to gathering and analyzing post event information to improve services.

List of Professional Competency Units (PCUs): In support of hydrologic forecast and warning operations, managing the hydrology program ensures the integrity and relevancy of NWS hydrologic services for partners and users.

Lead and conduct WFO Hydrologic Outreach
Identify, plan and coordinate changes in the WFO hydrology program
Maintain WFO hydrology database and software applications
Conduct field work to support WFO hydrology programs
Analyze and Verify WFO Hydrologic Events

Hydro PDS 3 : Manage a Hydrology Program

Executive Producer - Kate Abshire (AFS25)

PCU 1 : Lead and conduct WFO Hydrologic Outreach

Producers - Nicole Belk (ER/WFO Taunton, MA), Marty Pope (SR/WFO Jackson, MS), and Brian McInerney (WR/WFO Salt Lake City, UT)

Provide hydrologic education and outreach, superior customer service, and technical support, for all necessary venues to handle all hydrometeorological activities.

Recognition that specialized hydrologic expertise is needed in the local WFO area in preparation for water forecast services. WFO Hydrology Program Managers should be capable of providing outreach ranging from technical expertise for high end users, to basic explanations for the general public. They should make themselves known and available to users and partners in order to properly evaluate user needs.

PCU 2 : Identify, Plan and Coordinate Changes in the WFO Hydrology Program

Producers - Melissa Smith (CR/WFO Rapid City, SD)

Identify, plan and coordinate changes in the WFO hydrology program to ensure the program remains relevant in addressing the needs of WFO partners and users. Additionally, provide office leadership, expertise, and management regarding hydrologic administrative support functions at the WFO.

Identifying and correcting deficiencies and shortfalls in the WFO hydrology program ensures that the most complete and accurate hydrologic information is delivered by the WFO. Strategic planning and administrative functions allows these changes to be coordinated internally and with partners ultimately enhancing the users' decision making process.

PCU 3 : Maintain WFO Hydrology Database and Software Applications

Producers - Melissa Smith (CR/WFO Rapid City, SD)

Ensure the WFO hydrology database is complete and current with software applications properly maintained and available to WFO operational staff.

Information maintained in databases and accessed via software applications in the WFO hydrology program are crucial to support forecast, warning, other public service programs within the NWS hydrologic program and to entities outside of the NWS.

PCU 4 : Conduct Field Work and Research to Support WFO Hydrology Programs

Producers - Nicole Belk (ER/WFO Taunton, MA), Marty Pope (SR/WFO Jackson, MS), and Brian Mcinerney (WR/WFO Salt Lake City, UT)

Program Managers will provide hydrologic and geospatial data to support hydrology programs via fieldwork, local surveys, and cooperation with participating governmental agencies, users, and partners.

The NWS requires the acquisition of geospatial and temporal data in the proper geographic framework for the hydrologic database. Hydrology Program Manager field work and intra-agency cooperation is vital to obtain accurate data for the functioning of hydrologic programs. The meaning and proper use of geospatial and temporal data, as it relates to the WFO hydrology program, needs to be documented, coordinated with partnering agencies and users, and communicated to river forecast centers and other users.

PCU 5 : Analyze and Verify WFO Hydrologic Events

Producers - Jill Hardy (OCLO) and Dave Cokely (OCWWS/TD/NWSTC)

Analyze and perform verification of WFO hydrologic events, both high- and low-flow, to ensure a complete investigation of these events. This will improve data collection, forecast and warning operations, and internal and external collaboration in flood, drought, and normal conditions.

Documenting details in flow patterns during high- or low-water events can lead to improvements in forecast crests, low-water minima, and their timing. Collecting and verifying all available precipitation reports, river reports, and high- or low-water impacts during an event and post-event are critical to improved analysis of the scope and magnitude of the flood or drought event. Improved data may lead to more accurate downstream and inundation forecasts and impact statements during current events and for all locations with future events.

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