Interagency Working Group on Network Analysis

In Reply Refer To:                                  March 10, 1987
WGS-Mail Stop 415




OFFICE OF SURFACE WATER TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM NO. 87.06

Subject:  Interagency Working Group on Network Analysis

A new interagency working group on network analysis was created by
the Hydrology Subcommittee of the Interagency Advisory Committee
on Water Data of the Office of Water Data Coordination.  The
purpose of this memorandum is to inform the field offices of this
working group and to identify its purpose and scope.

The working group will encourage interagency coordination in the
planning, installation, use, and management of hydrometeorological
data networks. Hydrometeorological networks are defined to include
networks for collecting streamflow and climate data such as
precipitation, evaporation, solar radiation, temperature, etc.,
essential for defining the water-balance budget of a watershed.
The working group will provide a forum for discussing network
issues from the perspective of network users and will provide a
focus for, and ensure cooperation in, the development of technical
procedures for network analysis.  The working group will not
undertake any specific studies on network analysis.

Membership is currently comprised of one designated person plus
alternates from the following agencies:  (1) the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation, (2) the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, (3) the U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS), (4) the U.S. National Weather Service,
(5) the U.S. Soil Conservation Service, (6) the Tennessee Valley
Authority, and (7) the U.S. Forest Service.  Additional "associate
members" from these or other interested agencies may attend group
meetings at any time and can join the working group if they so
desire.

The working group meets every 2 months at the USGS office in
Reston, Virginia. The group has met three times to discuss issues
of mutual interest such as the pragmatic approach for ranking the
value of at-site data, funding arrangements for the USGS stream-
gaging program, and the accuracy of real-time data as a function
of the reporting frequency.  The meetings so far have been mostly
information exchange as each agency informs the working group of
their activities in network analysis.

If you have any questions about the activities of this working
group, please contact Will Thomas in the Office of Surface Water
(FTS 959-5318 or WOTHOMAS@RVARES).




                                   Verne R. Schneider
                                   Chief, Office of Surface Water

WRD Distribution:  A, B, FO, PO