2002 Cold Region Workshop Action Items

2002 Cold Region Workshop Action Items Alaska Pacific River Forecast Center (2004 Cold Region Workshop Coordination) North Central River Forecast Center Cold Region Workshop Information (2002 CRW Coordination)
Item No.	Description of the Action Item	Remarks / Status	Submitted By	Assigned To
1	Develop modeling tools to assess the threat of ice jams.	A proposal for funding (NOAA Administrator's Grant) was prepared and submitted on November 14, 2002. This proposal states the funds would be used for the development of empirical thresholds for ice jam occurrence. This was not funded, but funding from alternate sources has been obtained. CRREL is working on the project and will update at the 2004 CRW. Ongoing with status update at 2004 CRW	Tom Econopouly	Brian Connelly
2	Develop one source for snow depth mapping whether it be by Region, RFC, etc. utilizing data furnished by RFC database.	NCRFC has addressed this issue for Central Region by developing a new method of plotting snow data on the web that can be referenced by all WFO's and RFC's in the region. They purchased an extension for ArcGIS 8.x that allows them to publish a set of clickable maps to their website. The user can zoom in on certain areas and query the data points. They have been working with MBRFC to include their data in this process as well. Central Region is also working on some prototype ArcIMS sites for displaying snow and other data spatially. Prototype done in CR	Brian Connelly	Brian Connelly Wendy Pearson Frank Richards Tom Carroll
3	Prepare a write-up of QC Procedures to be used in HydroBase.	A draft of QC Procedures document has been written. Done	Julie Meyer	Julie Meyer
4	Put all of the CRW Action items on the existing CRW Web Page.	Current list is on the Cold Region Workshop 2004 web page at APRFC. Done...this list: 2002_CRW_ActionItems.html	Shripad Deo	Mike Anderson Larry Rundquist Daniel Lipinski
5	Attempt to be on next year's MIC/HIC annual meeting agenda to brief on CRW Items	The 2002 and 2004 CRW Chairs have and will continue to discuss this issue. There have been no joint MIC/HIC meetings in the past few years, but we have perhaps missed a few opportunites at HIC meetings. Monitoring planning efforts for next applicable meeting	Mike Anderson	Mike Anderson Alaska Region, 2004 CRW Host
6	The temperature mean lapse rates used in the hydrologic models needs improvement	APRFC developed a technique for using upper air data from the models to reduce the need for using mean lapse rates. Potential approach will be described at 2004 CRW	Larry Rundquist	Larry Rundquist
7	Availability of OHD Development projects in a prioritized list on a Web site	The list is available at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/water/RFC_support/ Many links are shown under "Requirements". Done	Workshop Discussions	Donna Page
8	Attempt to plan future Cold Region Workshops as to not to conflict with other NWS/other agency meetings.	Future CRW organizers will attempt to avoid schedule conflicts with other major meetings and conferences. Not aware of any meeting conflicts during Nov 15-19, 2004	Workshop Discussions	Mike Anderson Alaska Region, 2004 CRW Host
9	Cold Region Workshop announcement needs to have a wider distribution to make more individuals aware of the event.	An attempt by future CRW Chairpersons will be made to ensure that Regional HSD's announce upcoming Workshops. Funding for the CRW is the limiting factor. Ongoing effort	Workshop Discussions	Alaska Region Mike Anderson Gregg Rishel
10	Develop National guidelines on minimum and optimum data requirements for Cold Region Hydrology	Note: Currently there are no National Guidelines on minimum and optimum data requirements for cold region hydrology. Page and Reiman are currently working with Walton this item. CSU student Scott McKim is looking at impacts of snow pack data density on hydrologic modeling. Little has been accomplished on this task	Mark Walton, GRR WFO	Donna Page Randy Reiman John Bradley
11	Provide a URL to locate the current SHEF Manual	The current SHEF Manual is located at the following address along with several other manuals http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/water/RFC_support/ Done	Workshop Discussions	Randy Reiman
12	Prepare a requirement document to develop techniques and new science to assimilate observed SWE and NWSRFS.	Randy Reiman will be adding this item to the Requirements List. No update on this item	Jay Breidenbach	Jay Breidenbach Joe Intermill Randy Reiman
13	Follow up of the 2000 Cold Region Workshop Action Items	Note: There were no specific action items stated from the 2000 CRW. Many recommendations were listed in the Final White Paper Report. The recommendations are on the requirements list but none are in the top 30. Need support to elevate priority	Mike Anderson	Randy Reiman Gregg Rishel Larry Rundquist Mike Anderson
14	Prepare a requirement document to develop SHEF coding for the new Doppler stream flow data which is being sent by the USGS.	Mike Lukes prepared a first draft of this requirement document. Based on comments on the draft, he revised and submitted the requirement. The HADS Team is working on the R2 thru R9 type source. A local workaround was to assign the ADVM stage reports to a PE of HA until the R2 thru R9 type source is implemented. Near completion with workaround available	Mike Lukes	Mike Lukes Bill Morris Julie Meyer Joe Heim
15	Make improvements to the glacier operation making calibration parameters viewable in IFP	Done	Larry Rundquist	Larry Rundquist
16	Prepare an article describing the 2002 CRW Workshop for publication in the NWS Focus	An article describing the 2002 CRW was prepared and was sent to Barry Reichenbaugh, NWS Public Affairs on November 19, 2002. Done	Ken King	Mike Anderson
17	Add QC Tool information as part of the Advanced WHFS Course now being developed.	According to Jeff Zimmerman in Aug 2004, training is provided on the QC tools in WHFS in the Advanced WHFS course. Specifically, the training covers QC data flow, setting up the QC parameters, viewing data which has been flagged as bad or questionable, and ramifications to the "downstream applications" for data which has been flagged as bad or questionable. Also, the training engages the students in discussion on how and if they have implemented the QC tools into their hydro operations. The QC material is a formal part of the agenda and scope of the course. Done	Workshop Discussions	Donna Page Mark Strobin Marion Baker
18	Prepare a recommendation that emphasizes the need for more automated SWE sites	Jay Breidenbach has prepared a white paper describing the requirement for more automated SWE sites. This paper will be presented to the NRCS-NWS Policy Group on March 26, 2003 as a beginning point. The goal is a NWS or NRCS, or joint initiative to obtain funding for more automated SWE sites. White paper done... no news from Policy Group mtg	Jay Breidenbach	Jay Breidenbach Bob Tibi Ken King NRCS NWS Policy Group
19	Write a requirement to make a snow model heat deficit mod	In a pole of RFCs, this was not the highest priority. Further analysis is needed to develop documentation. Completion date moved back. On hold	Larry Rundquist	Larry Rundquist
20	Investigate the data quality control process between the Weather Forecast Offices and the River Forecast Centers.	Jay Breidenbach will submit this issue as an item for consideration at the up coming Advanced Hydro Tools Workshop. Expected Completion Date: No date assigned...on going	Jay Breidenbach	Jay Breidenbach
21	Display the Sacramento Runoff Model frozen ground model states on the RFC web page.	The North Central River Forecast Center staff will consider how to convey the frozen ground model states to our users via the internet. Status unknown	Brian Connelly	NCRFC staff
22	Display the ESP Workshop proposal on the CRW website	At the ESP workshop last September in Portland there were a few RFC's that were experimenting with short to medium-term ensemble forecasting. They proposed using ensemble temperature and precipitation forecasts to generate ensembles of river forecasts in the spring and other times of the year. Status unknown	Brian Connelly	Brian Connelly
23	Determine what should be the distribution of the Final Report and Action Items from the 2002 CRW	Copies of the Final Report and Action Items have been sent to the appropriate NWS HQ Hydro Managers, all Regional HSD's, and all CRW attendees. A request was made to all HSD Chiefs that redistribution be made to MIC's, HIC's, RFC forecasters, Service Hydrologists and Hydro Focal Points. Done	Mike Anderson	Mike Anderson Ken King Gregg Rishel
24	Encode the needed Supplementary Coded Data in SHEF	Documentation has been prepared regarding the coding procedures and this information will be sent to Central Region for distribution to those who need the coding instructions. Status unknown	Workshop Discussions	Holly Reckel
25	Write a requirement to utilize the Z-S relationship in MPE	Note: The Z-R relationship is currently in MPE. It arrives with the product from the radar. CRW attendees would also like to see the Z-S relationship (it is related to snow depth estimates) the radar use in MPE. In order to do that, it needs to be put into the product sent in the radar product, then MPE would have to read and display it. This would take coordination between ROC and OHD. Reiman and Reckel will prepare a requirement document. Status unknown	Workshop Discussions	Donna Page Randy Reiman Holly Reckel
26	Develop a National Ice Observation Website and Data Repository	This item is somewhat dependent on CRREL's activities related to the Funding Proposal in Item #1. More information will be forth coming concerning this item. Expected Completion Date: Undetermined at this time.	Tom Econopouly	Tom Econopouly
27	Provide current details of the modernization of the COOP Program.	Andy Horwitz provided the following URL's concerning the COOP Program Modernization. http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/coop/index.htm http://140.90.22.241/website/coop Done	Ken King	Mike Anderson
28	Provide information concerning what the NWS is doing to improve raingage catch.	This item can be covered by asking someone from NWS HQ to address this issue at the 2004 CRW. Status: NWS HQ has recently been asked about NWS policy	Ken King	Alaska Region Mike Anderson
29	Establish a National Cold Region Workshop Web page	Mike Anderson and Daniel Lipinski are currently investigating the possible options. Status unknown 2002 CRHW available through the North Central River Forecast Center links at: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ncrfc/ColdRegion/index.html 2004 CRHW available through Alaska-Pacific River Forecast Center Web site at:http://aprfc.arh.noaa.gov/resources/crw04/2004CRHW.htm	Mike Anderson	Mike Anderson Daniel Lipinski Shripad Deo
30	Submit a requirement to provide MAT in less than 6 hour time steps to account for diurnal fluctuations and to modify inconsistent computational schemes currently used.	Note 1: MAT currently can only produce a 6 hour time series. Since there is more data available, smaller time steps would better in situations where the temperature changes more rapidly. This should apply to both the observed and the forecast periods. Note 2: MAT currently only uses the max/min forecast temperatures and assumes a standard diurnal variation. If 1 hour temperature forecasts are available, CRW attendees would like MAT to use these to help in situations when the max/mins do not occur at the standard diurnal variation times (max in the afternoon and min in the early am). Note 3: MAT observed time series is calculated differently than the MAT time series for future data and for calibration, thus the introducing a bias during operations. Eric Anderson has brought this to the attention of HQ and APRFC is pursuing the issue. Reiman and Rundquist will write the requirement. Requirement submitted for Note 3	Workshop Discussions	Donna Page Randy Reiman Larry Rundquist
31	Assemble a team to investigate the use of IFPS temperature grids in NWSRFS.	Note: This is one of the potential solutions for both issues stated in the Notes of Item 30 above; i.e. producing a 1 hour MAT and use 1 hour forecast temperatures. CRW attendees discussed a potential RDM project to produce a grid processor that would produce 1 hour areally averaged forecast time series. Status unknown	Workshop Discussions	Donna Page
32	NRCS Action Items 1. Provide Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Webpage location indicating the proper method to lay out a snow course. 2. Provide SNOTEL site product information	The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) web site gives access to this information. The web page is dynamically generated, and the first view might not specifically show the Snow Survey information, but follow the links and snow survey and SNOTEL information can be located. In addition, anyone needing more information can contact their local Natural Resources Conservation Service office. Follow links to local office information from the main NRCS web page. Done	Workshop Discussions	Mike Anderson Daniel Lipinski
33	Provide the procedure to request new National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center Airborne Snow Survey flight lines.	Anyone needing this information can contact the National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center. National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center web page.	Workshop Discussions	Mike Anderson Daniel Lipinski

Last Updated on 11/12/2004