Report, "Review of Headquarters Support Functions in the Water Resources Division, Fiscal Year 1996"

Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 16:51:09 -0500
To: "A  - Division Chief and Staff"<distribution.a@srv1rvares.er.usgs.gov>,
        "B  - Branch Chiefs and Offices"<distribution.b@srv1rvares.er.usgs.gov>,
        "DC - All District Chiefs"<distribution.dc@srv1rvares.er.usgs.gov>
From: "Robert M. Hirsch, Chief Hydrologist, USGS" <rhirsch@srv1rvares.er.usgs.gov> (by way of
 Joanne C. Taylor)
Subject: Report, "Review of Headquarters Support Functions in the Water
 Resources Division, Fiscal Year 1996"
Cc: " , WRD Archive File, Reston, VA "<wrd-archive>,
        "Gordon P Eaton Reston, VA "<geaton@igsrsparc4.er.usgs.gov>,
        "Bonnie McGregor Reston, VA "<bmcgrego@igsrsparc4.er.usgs.gov>,
        "Barbara J Ryan Reston, VA "<bjryan@igsrsparc4.er.usgs.gov>,
        "Linda D Stanley Reston, VA "<lstanley@igsrsparc4.er.usgs.gov>,
        "Richard E Witmer Reston, VA "<rwitmer>,
        "P. Patrick Leahy, Chief Geologist, Reston, VA "<pleahy@bgrdg1.er.usgs.gov>,
        "Dennis B Fenn, Chief Biologist, Reston, VA "<denny_fenn@nbs.gov>,
        "Robert M Hirsch, Chief Hydrologist, Reston, VA "<rhirsch@srv1rvares.er.usgs.gov>,
        "William F Gossman Jr. Reston, VA "<wgossman>,
        "Thomas Dolley Reston, VA "<tdolley@igsrsparc4.er.usgs.gov>,
        "Barbara J Ryan Reston, VA "<bjryan@igsrsparc4.er.usgs.gov>,
        "Gary W Hill Reston, VA "<ghill@igsrsparc4.er.usgs.gov>,
        "Martin Eckes Reston, VA "<meckes@igsrsparc4.er.usgs.gov>,
        "Eleanor G Fisher Reston, VA "<efisher@igsrsparc4.er.usgs.gov>,
        "Sandra L Harris, Hydrologist, Marlborough, MA "<sharris>,
        "James C Leupold, Asst. Dir. Budg. & Admin., Reston, VA "<jim_leupold@nbs.gov>,
        "Gloria J Stiltner, Chief, DIS, Reston, VA "<stiltner>,
        "William E Fordyce Reston, VA "<wfordyce>,
        "David P Russ Reston, VA "<druss@srv1rvares.er.usgs.gov>,
        "John N Fischer, Associate Chief Hydrologist, Reston, VA "<jfischer>,
        "James R Plasker Reston, VA "<jplasker>


In Reply Refer To:
Mail Stop 441



				 MEMORANDUM

                                               June 20, 1997


To:       Distribution

From:     Robert M. Hirsch    /s/Catherine L. Hill (Acting)
          Chief Hydrologist

Subject:  Report, "Review of Headquarters Support Functions in the
          Water Resources Division, Fiscal Year 1996"

In fiscal years (FY) 1995 and 1996, we asked two teams to review Water
Resources Division (WRD) headquarters support functions.  The final report
for FY 1995 was distributed to you in May 1996.  The report of the FY 1996
Headquarters Review Team (HQRT) is now available on the web at:

         http://wwwoper.er.usgs.gov/information/HQRT96.REVIEW.html.

The scope of the FY 1996 review, like the FY 1995 review, was limited to
those headquarters and regional functions funded by WOTSC and/or
Data-Collection and Analysis funds (i.e., division-level support
functions).  The report includes review team recommendations and responses
from units that were reviewed.  The recommendations from the team were used
to make decisions in the FY 1997 funding allocation process.

The following recommendations from the FY 1996 review have been implemented:

    o Internal reviews of headquarters units are now scheduled to be done
three times a year.  We have almost completed one round of reviews.  These
reviews will take the place of the MBO review sessions previously held.

    o Funds budgeted for vacancies and anticipated relocations are now held in
the division reserve, rather than in a Senior Staff member's budget.

    o Monetary awards for organizational unit staff are now budgeted at a
level not to exceed 1 percent of the unit's annual base salary budget, as
recommended by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Benchmark Team on Rewards, the
USGS Policy Council, and the HQRT.  Guidance has gone out to all Water
Resources Division managers.

    o The Graduate School Program is being reviewed to determine viability in
decreased budget times.  The committee reported to the Human Resources
Management Committee (HRMC) in June 1997, and recommended continuing the
program.  The committee will report back to the HRMC with cost-savings
ideas.  The Graduate School Program will be put on hold temporarily for the
FY 1997-98 school year (while we develop an overall strategy for training
in WRD).

    o The National Training Center, and training for the division, in general,
is being reviewed and discussed among the Senior Staff.

    o In FY 1997, funds were given to each region to assist in the 5-year
water-use compilation report.

    o The Office of Water Information continues to downsize, which to date has
resulted in FY 1997 salary savings of $450,000.

    o The Office of Surface Water-South hydraulics laboratory staff has been
downsized.  The laboratory engineer on contract has been terminated. Office of
Surface Water has visited the hydraulics laboratory in Ontario, Canada, to see
if we could combine our needs and use one facility.

    o Effective in FY 1997, there was no longer any regional assessment to
support people working in the restructured "area hydrologist" positions.

    o Future reviews of the regions will not be conducted by the HQRT, but
rather, will be under the purview of the Assistant Chief Hydrologist for
Operations.  Team members will consist of former District Chiefs.

The following recommendations from the FY 1995 review have been implemented:

    o The Branch of Systems Analysis was eliminated in FY 1997.  The
staff was reassigned to the Office of Surface Water and the Hydrologic
Analysis Support Section, Office of the Assistant Chief Hydrologist for
Technical Support.

    o The Computer Policy Advisory Committee has developed a multi-year plan
describing the computer needs of WRD.

    o The National Water Data Exchange Office has been downsized, in
recognition of the phasing out of that program.  Currently, five of the seven
people in that unit have been reassigned.

    o A strategic plan has been developed for the Office of Surface Water.


The FY 1996 HRQT consisted of Andrea Alpine, Dennis Lynch, Gary Paulachok,
Jerry Ryan, Don Vaupel, and Linda Weiss.  I would like to thank the team for
their diligent efforts and for a job well done.

Distribution:  A, B, DC

Copy to:  USGS Policy Council
          Operations Council