Hydrology Professional Development Series (PDS) 3 : Manage a Hydrology Program |
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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.
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- 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
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PCU 2: Identify, plan and coordinate changes in the WFO hydrology program
Producers:Melissa Smith - WFO Rapid City SD (UNR),
melissa.smith@noaa.gov
Description of Job Competency to be Achieved :
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.
Description of Need :
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.
Abilities/Performance Elements:
Ability 1.
Assess critical hydrological and meteorological data networks.
Skill 1.1.
Ensure data is being obtained from viable sources both internally and externally for both data network quality control and standardized format of metadata.
- IC Title: WFO Hydrology Program Management
- Type: Formal Training (via NWSTC)
- URL/location: https://training.weather.gov/nwstc/Hydrology/hpm/index.html
- Description: This course covers the basic requirements for the management of a WFO hydrology program. Lessons address policy guidance, local training, the duties of a Service Hydrologist and a Hydrology Focal Point, data collection, quality control, hydrologic networks, establishing forecast points.
- Length: Hybrid: Residence (3.5 days) and Web-Based
- IC Title: CPM01 - Cooperative Network Operations
- Type: Formal Training (via NWSTC)
- URL/location: https://training.weather.gov/nwstc/CourseInfo/index.php?course=cno
- Description: To provide the knowledge and skills needed to maintain and manage the Cooperative Observation Program and its associated equipment, and how Co-op supports the Climate, Hydrologic, and Forecast & Warning programs within the NWS, NOAA, and other partner agencies.
- Length: Residence (8 working days)
Skill 1.2.
Evaluate surface data network for efficiencies and completeness.
Skill 1.3.
Recommend changes to internal networks as needed to support hydrology program, such as: River gage data, RFC forecast points, Data Points, COOP Network and Precipitation Data.
Skill 1.4.
Analyze external networks for support of hydrology program. Work with cooperators on data network issues, determine if the needs of the local officials/agencies are being met for hydrologic warnings and services. Other organizations could include other federal agencies, state, county or local government agencies, utility companies and other entities such as river authority and CoCoRaHS.
- IC Title: CPM01 - Cooperative Network Operations
- Type: Formal Training (via NWSTC)
- URL/location: https://training.weather.gov/nwstc/CourseInfo/index.php?course=cno
- Description: To provide the knowledge and skills needed to maintain and manage the Cooperative Observation Program and its associated equipment, and how Co-op supports the Climate, Hydrologic, and Forecast & Warning programs within the NWS, NOAA, and other partner agencies.
- Length: Residence (8 working days)
Skill 1.5.
Evaluate data network availability, quality, completeness and include radar and satellite observation systems.
- IC Title: Advanced Satellite Sounding: The Benefits of Hyperspectral Observation - 2nd Edition
- Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
- URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
- Description: Webcast covers various types of satellite observing systems
- Length: Online - 1 hour
- IC Title: SHyMet for Forecasters: An Introduction to Remote Sensing for Hydrology
- Type: Formal Training (in LMS)
- URL/location: https://doc.csod.com
- Description: SHyMet course introduces a variety of ways that remote sensing data can be used for hydrologic applications
- Length: About 45 minutes
Skill 1.6.
Identify and assess new data sources. Evaluate other sensor platforms as needed such as event-based short-term sites.
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Ability 2.
Communicate to users, both internally and externally, changes in the WFO hydrology program.
(NOTE: Also refer to PDS1, PCUs 1.)
Skill 2.1.
Identify the runoff/streamflow relationship between WFOs.
Skill 2.2.
Enlist supporting RFC(s) in setting program needs.
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Ability 3.
Supervise administrative support functions relevant to WFO hydrology program
Skill 3.1.
Archive historical events through the monthly composition of reports
- IC Title: Hydro Program Managers Course
- Type: Formal Training (in LMS) and NWSTC in-house
- URL/location: https://training.weather.gov/nwstc/Hydrology/hpm/index.html
- Description: The course covers field work, collaboration with partners, dealing with the media, and brief overview of the WHFS software on AWIPS. The goal of this online prerequisite course is to provide an overview of the duties of a Hydrology Program Manager in the NWS and a guided exploration of related directives.
- Length: 3.5 days in-house plus prerequisite coursework
Skill 3.2.
Develop and execute hydrology training.
- IC Title: Hydro Program Managers Course
- Type: Formal Training (in LMS) and NWSTC in-house
- URL/location: https://training.weather.gov/nwstc/Hydrology/hpm/index.html
- Description: The course covers field work, collaboration with partners, dealing with the media, and brief overview of the WHFS software on AWIPS. The goal of this online prerequisite course is to provide an overview of the duties of a Hydrology Program Manager in the NWS and a guided exploration of related directives.
- Length: 3.5 days in-house plus prereq coursework
Skill 3.3.
Advise and assist remote WFOs without a Service Hydrologist.
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Ability 4.
Establish WFO hydrologic backup methodologies in order to produce hydrologic products and continuity of operations.
Skill 4.1.
Accrue hydrologic databases, templates, manuals, and contacts of neighboring HSAs for backup purposes.
Skill 4.2.
Prepare and develop instructions for instituting and terminating the hydrologic backup process
Skill 4.3.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the hydrologic continuity of operations
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