Meet Weekly or bi-monthly to discuss all aspects of Stewardship:Meet Weekly or bi-monthly to discuss all aspects of Stewardship:

Dave BrowerDave Brower Dan WickwireDan WickwireNatural Resources Conservation Service Natural Resources Conservation Service Bureau of Land Bureau of Land

ManagementManagementState of WashingtonState of Washington State of OregonState of Oregon

Linda DavisLinda Davis Karen HansonKaren HansonIdaho Department of Water ResourcesIdaho Department of Water Resources U.S. Geological SurveyU.S. Geological SurveyState of IdahoState of Idaho National WBD Technical National WBD Technical

CoordinatorCoordinator

Ann FritzAnn Fritz David AndersonDavid AndersonNorth Dakota Department of HealthNorth Dakota Department of Health NHD POC NHD POC

(previous Florida State (previous Florida State Department of Department of

Environement)Environement)

Steve NecheroSteve NecheroNatural Resources Conservation ServiceNatural Resources Conservation ServiceNational Cartography & Geospatial CenterNational Cartography & Geospatial Center

State Stewardship Work State Stewardship Work Group (SSWG)Group (SSWG)

Stewardship issues being Stewardship issues being addressed by SSWG:addressed by SSWG:

• WBD Issue Paper

• NHD/WBD Stewardship Roles and Responsibilities

• Using High Resolution for WBD improvement

• Hydrologic Unit Names

• 7th and 8th level

• NHD/WBD Spatial Integration

• Coastal Pilot

ftp://ftpext.usgs.gov/pub/wr/ut/salt.lake.city/WBD/STEWARDSHIP/

The Watershed Boundary The Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD) – Issue Dataset (WBD) – Issue

PaperPaper

February 20, 2008February 20, 2008

Developing a WBD Stewardship Developing a WBD Stewardship Issue PaperIssue Paper

Discussions among NHD and WBD stewards from across the nation highlighted a number of issues

These discussions in a variety of settings led to the collective decision to write an issue paper

A small representative group was formed to draft an Issue Paper

Review and comment (buy-in) expanded to represent a truly national perspective

Overview - Articulating the Overview - Articulating the State Perspective on State Perspective on

StewardshipStewardship State and federal groups committed extensive resources to development of the WBD

USGS and NRCS had worked to ensure a consistent high quality dataset through a national certification process

As some states completed certification, there was an immediate need to perform updates

There was strong interest among state groups to move forward with stewardship at the earliest possible time

This should be developed in collaboration between NRCS, USGS, and their state and federal partners

Broad agreement at the grass-Broad agreement at the grass-roots levelroots level

The paper was routed to the WBD state stewards for review and comment, as well as key personnel in other related programs

The paper included a compilation of agreed upon issues from: 63 individuals Representing 19 different state and federal

agencies

RecommendationsRecommendations:: Develop a Strategic Plan for WBD Stewardship

Develop Plan collaboratively with WBD community

Develop on a fast track to meet needs of states passing national certification

““No comprehensive post-No comprehensive post-certification stewardship strategy certification stewardship strategy was in place for the WBD”was in place for the WBD”

WBD Stewardship Issues WBD Stewardship Issues as presented in Issue as presented in Issue

PaperPaper

““Stewardship Roles and Stewardship Roles and Responsibilities had not been Responsibilities had not been defined for the WBD”defined for the WBD”

RecommendationsRecommendations: : NRCS and USGS should work with state stewards to

establish clear definitions for roles and responsibilities

Primary stewardship responsibility should reside at state steward level

State stewards should be involved regarding changes, refinements, and/or additions to national guidelines

WBD Stewardship Agreements should be established

““Stewardship relationship Stewardship relationship between WBD and NHD has between WBD and NHD has not been defined”not been defined”

RecommendationsRecommendations:: Establish clear linkage between stewardship of

both datasets

Develop data designs that include both NHD and WBD to better facilitate keeping both of these datasets synchronized

““WBD had not incorporated WBD had not incorporated Hydrologic Unit boundaries at Hydrologic Unit boundaries at the 7the 7thth and 8 and 8thth level” level”

RecommendationsRecommendations: : Develop national guidelines for 7th

and 8th level boundaries

Modify WBD data model accordingly

Provide mechanism for inclusion of 7th and 8th level boundaries

Define if boundaries at that level would be certified

BLM Salem District Adds 7th Level Boundaries

““No process workflow had been No process workflow had been identified for identified for update/maintenance of the update/maintenance of the WBD”WBD”

RecommendationsRecommendations::

Develop edit process workflow that accounts for roles/responsibilities, national and state steward business requirements, user expectations

Address state specific requirements in WBD Stewardship Agreements

State StewardPerforms Edit on National Database

State StewardSubmits Edit to

National Steward

National StewardPerforms QA/QC

Accepts or Rejects Edit

National StewardPosts Successful

Edits to WBD

National Steward Notifies State

Steward and WBDUser Community

WBD User Determines

That Edit is Needed

WBD User Submits Change RequestTo State Steward

State StewardCoordinates with

All Partners

State StewardAccepts or RejectsProposed Change

WBD Maintenance: Simplified Process Workflow

For Purposes of Simplification—Assumes Acceptance at Accept/Reject Decision Points

ResultsResults

Issue Paper was completed and submitted to senior level managers at USGS and NRCS - February 2008

Response was favorable and it was agreed that the timing was right to move forward in close collaboration with stakeholders and the NHD program to address these Stewardship issues

Stewardship is progressing on multiple tracks

The WBD Stewardship Community is available to work with USGS and NRCS on national WBD Stewardship strategy