Information Concerning the Federal Interagency Sedimentation Project In Reply Refer To: December 20, 1994 Mail Stop 415 OFFICE OF SURFACE WATER TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM NO. 95.01 Subject: Information Concerning the Federal Interagency Sedimentation Project The Federal Interagency Sedimentation Project (FISP) is now operating from its new home at the Hydraulics Laboratory of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Mississippi. The FISP functions as an independent interagency project responsible and responsive to the Technical Committee of the Subcommittee on Sedimentation of the Interagency Advisory Committee on Water Data (IACWD). The IACWD is an advisory committee to the Secretary of the Interior and the entire Federal government on all aspects of water information. It is administratively organized by the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Office of Water Data Coordination, having representatives from about 30 Federal agencies. The Technical Committee, with FISP input, develops the FISP research and development priorities and provides general guidance. The Technical Committee currently consists of representatives from the USGS, USACE, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Land Management, the Agricultural Research Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Harvey Jobson, the USGS representative on the Technical Committee, is responsible for representing the USGS interests, goals, and priorities for FISP to the Technical Committee. You are encouraged to contact Harvey if you have special concerns or questions about FISP. The FISP mission is to seek solutions to problems within the field of sedimentation that are of common concern to the participating agencies and that are of a nature that solution through cooperative action by the interagency group offers distinct advantages. Areas of interest and activities include, but are not limited to, the following: development, modification, and testing of surface-water sediment and water-quality sampling equipment; procurement and calibration of this equipment; development of sediment and water- quality sampling methods; specification of laboratory-analysis techniques for surface-water samples; and research into automatic measurement of sediment concentrations and water-quality parameters in streams. Wayne O'Neal (woneal) is the Chief of the FISP. He transferred to the USGS from USACE in March 1994. The FISP staff consists of O'Neal, Bernadette Ward (USGS), Johnny McGregor (USACE), and Joe Farrar (USACE). An additional USGS hydrologist, to do research and development, is currently being recruited for the FISP team. John Skinner, who was Chief of FISP for many years and retired in 1994, is working with FISP as a rehired annuitant. His office is in Mounds View, Minnesota, at the District Office. Dallas Childers of the Cascades Volcano Observatory Project in Vancouver, Washington, who served as interim Chief of FISP after Skinner retired, is working part time with FISP. Wayne and the FISP staff are organizationally attached to the Office of Surface Water During its more than 50 year history, FISP staff memebers have produced over 80 reports and papers. Its equipment and techniques are the standards used by most Federal, State, and local agencies, and by many private concerns collecting surface-water sediment and water-quality data in the United States. Samplers developed by the project have also been used by the World Meteorological Organization as controls for comparing suspended-sediment samplers developed by several countries. FISP currently has a number of projects underway. A new water- quality sampler is being developed. It will have a one liter capacity and will be suspended from a hand line. The BL-84 bedload sampler (Helley Smith style sampler with a 1.44 flare nozzle) will be put into production and will be available in 1995. A new rechargeable battery pack, will be available in 1995 for the US-P-61 and other electrically actuated samplers. Calibration data for the frame-type bag sampler is being analyzed to establish its sampling- velocity limitations. In addition to the projects listed above, FISP supplies and repairs surface-water sediment and water-quality sampling equipment. The phone number, 601-634-2721, is provided for obtaining information on availability, pricing, and ordering for equipment and repair work. It is highly recommended that individuals call this number and speak to one of the FISP team prior to placing orders for any of the services that FISP provides. The members of the FISP team will be happy to be of assistance, answering any questions related to FISP services and equipment that you may have. Ernest F. Hubbard Acting Chief, Office of Surface Water WRD Distribution: A, B, FO, PO