Seminars for Managers In Reply Refer To: January 6, 1995 Mail Stop 414 WATER RESOURCES DIVISION MEMORANDUM NO. 95.07 Subject: Seminars for Managers A series of seminars was developed in 1991 by the office of Program Coordination and Technical Support (PC&TS) to help Water Resources Division managers become familiar with new ideas, technical approaches, and programs. The series has been updated and expanded based on comments from the field, and a description of the available seminars and briefings is attached. The seminars are designed to give a brief overview of the subject and to cover the most significant topics within each subject area. Some are designed for l-hour presentations while others may take as much as a day to complete. The courses are designed to be flexible in that the scope and length of the presentations can be adjusted through negotiations with the seminar coordinator. The seminars are intended to be presented at District meetings and at Regional meetings of District Chiefs, Section Chiefs, or Specialists. Arrangements for a seminar to be given should be made through the course coordinator. Other course topics will be added to this series for managers as the need arises. We welcome your suggestions for new topics. Please contact Wayne Solley, Chief, Branch of Water-UseInformation, 703/648-5670, EDOC WBSOLLEY, to add topics or to provide us with comments related to this series. Verne R. Schneider Assistant Chief Hydrologist for Technical Support Attachment Distribution: A, B, S, FO, PO This memorandum supersedes WRD Memorandum No.91.10. SEMINARS FOR MANAGERS 1995 Statistics for Managers (4 hours) Coordinator: Jim Slack This course is a condensed version of the existing course G0754 "Probability and Statistics for Data Analysis." It is for managers and section chiefs who need an update on statistical techniques. It will introduce them to many new developmentsin statistics over the last 10 years which have application to hydrologic data analysis. Emphasis will be on why and in what situations each procedure is used, rather than the mechanics of computation. New Developments in Statistics Graphical Procedures Improvements to Regression Nonparametric Statistics Trend Analysis Computations for Data below Detection Limits Bacterial Processes in Ground-water Geochemistry (2 hours) Coordinator: Frank Chapelle This presentation explains how some fairly straightforward sampling of water chemistry can go along way toward determining which bacterial processes (sulfate reduction, iron reduction, methanogenesis, fermentation, aerobic respiration) areoccurring in the subsurface, and thereby help set the framework for understanding the overall geochemistry of a flow system. Water Resource Education Initiative (1 hour) Coordinator: Steve Vandas This seminar is designed to acquaint managers with the Water Resources Division (WRD) education initiative. This initiative is a cooperative effort between Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Land Management, the American Water Resources Association, and the National Science Teachers Association. The objective is to stimulate interest in and provide a basic knowledge of water resources to students in grades K-12. Multi-agency Approach Water Resource Educational Posters Water Resource Educational Training Package National Speakers Bureau Use of Quality-Control Data in Water-Quality Investigations (1/2 day) Coordinator: Bill Shampine The Branch of Technical Development and Quality Systems (BTD&QS) prepared this course to help project chiefs better understand the role of quality-control data inwater-quality investigations. It provides a brief introduction to: quality systemsterminology, project data-quality objectives, types of quality- control data that can be collected, the objective of each sample type, how to evaluate the results, and whatdocumentation is needed. Terminology "What is Quality? Data-Quality Objectives Philosophy Elements Quality-Control Samples Type Objective Evaluation Documentation Project Quality-Assurance Plan Paper Trail Publication Management of Quality (1 / 2 day) Coordinator: Bill Shampine The BTD&QS prepared this course for all levels of management to provide an introduction to quality-management principles, philosophy, and implementation tools. Terminology "What is Quality?" Total Quality Management Philosophy Elements Federal Quality Institute Documentation Paper Trail Quality-Assurance Plans Techniques of Water Resources Investigations (Standard Operating Procedures) Tools of Quality Improvement Diagrams and Charts Checklist Stratification Quality-Assurance Field Blanks and Spikes for Trace-Organic Analysis Projects (1/2 day) Coordinator: Mark Sandstrom The National Water-Quality Laboratory previously developed this course to assist hydrologists involved with projects that emphasize trace-organic chemistry. The course explains the purposes and proper use of field blanks and sample spikes to detect (a) contamination, (b) degradation between time of sampling and time of analysis of organic substances, (c) recoveries of trace organics during sample extraction in the laboratory, and (d) a precision factor that includes the spiking process, subsequent sample handling, and the labora- tory analysis. The procedures have been standardized and are becoming widely used in many Division projects. Purpose of Blanks Purpose of Spikes Field Protocols Laboratory Handling of Samples Interpretation of Quality-Assurance Results Interpretation of Environmental (project) Data in Terms of Quality-Assurance Results WRD Occupational Safety and Health Program (1-2 hours) Coordinator: G. L Hwang WRD occupational safety and health program is mandated by Executive Order 12196 issued February 1980. The purpose of this briefing is to provide WRD managers an overview of the program. It will include the following topics: (1) Safety Law and Regulations for Federal Agencies (2) WRD Safety Organization-Roles of Managers, Safety Officers Safety Committee and Technical Subcommittees (3) Safety Support for Technical Programs -DODEC, NAWQA, and NPDES (4) Safety Support for Field and Workplace Operations-Cableways, Streamgaging Station Stilling Wells, Bridges, Boating, Wading, Sampling, Drilling, and others -Hazard Communication and Laboratory Safety (5) Safety Training Program (6) Medical Surveillance and Immunization Program (7) District Safety Inspections and Review (8) District Safety Management Awards (9) WRD Safety Data Bases, Resources and Media Library (10) Hazardous Materials Management -Environmental Compliance (RCRA and CERCLA) -Chemical Handling, Storage, Transportation and Disposal -Environmental Assessment Report (CUTES) Organic Chemicals in the Environment (1 day) Coordinator: Paul Capel This course is designed by the Office of Water Quality to introduce scientific managers to the environmental behavior of organic chemicals and how this influences proper study design. The course will cover the basic behavior, fate, and transport processes that govern organic compounds. The course also will discuss how consideration of these chemical properties and environmental process are necessary to successful study design. Relation between Water and Organic Chemical Cycles Processes Governing Organic Chemical Behavior Effect of Organic Chemical Structure on Environmental Processes Environmentally Relevant Organic Compounds Organic Chemical Considerations in Study Design Recent GIS Developments and Applications (1 day) Coordinator: Robert Pierce Geographic Information System (GIS) technology is rapidly becoming a major element in the analysis of water-resources information. This course is designed to provide WRD managers with a better understanding of this technology in order to facilitate development of these programs, better estimate project costs, and better match staff to GIS-related activities. The course will emphasize practical applications and recent developments in spatial data analysis. Data Sources GIS Applications Operational and Management Concerns Project Development Cost of Doing Business Information Sources Newsletters and Who to Turn To Training National Ground-Water Atlas (2-hour briefing) Coordinator: Jim Miller The purpose of this briefing will be to describe the format, content, purpose, and status of the various segments of the Atlas series. Maps and illustrations presented in the Atlas also will be discussed. Water-Use Concepts (1 hour) Coordinator: Wayne Solley The purpose of the course is to familiarize WRD managers with water-use terminology and concepts and to discuss how the Water-Use Program can be successfully integrated with other District programs and national Thrust Programs. Water-Use Terminology and Concepts Development of a Successful District Water-Use Program Integrating the Water-Use Program with other Programs Quality Assurance of Water-Use Estimates Instrumentation Available Water-Demand Management Current Statistical Procedures for Estimating Streamflow Characteristics at Gaged and Ungaged Sites (1-2 hours) Coordinator: Will Thomas The OSW prepared this course to give managers and section chiefs an overview of current technology for estimating streamflow characteristics at gaged and ungaged sites. It provides a brief introduction to the uses of streamflow characteristics, new streamflow characteristics required by management and regulatory agencies, the available data management and application software, frequency analysis at gagingstations, and techniques for estimating streamflow characteristics at ungaged sites. Use of Streamflow Characteristics Planning and Design Floodplain Management Water-Quality Management New Streamflow Characteristics Biologically Based Low Flows Multi-Year/Month Characteristics Seasonal Characteristics Data Management and Application Software Retrieval of Data from WATSTORE/ADAPS Use of WDM File for Data Management Analysis Software Frequency Analysis at Gaging Stations Tests to Verify Assumptions Flood-Frequency Analysis Low-Flow Frequency Analysis Procedures for Handling Zero Flow Techniques for Ungaged Sites Use of Baseflow Measurements Bridge Scour (2 hours) Coordinator: Dave Mueller The OSW prepared this course for District Chiefs and Section Chiefs to describe the problems associated with bridge scour and project approaches to resolving these problems. The seminar will briefly overview the mechanics of scour and channelinstability as they relate to bridge stability. Benefits and requirements of several types of bridge scour projects approaches will be described. The history and status of WRD bridge-scour investigations will be discussed. Catastrophic Bridge Failures Examples Unresolved Problems Mechanics of Scour Local Scour Contraction Scour Channel Instabilit Scour Data Collection Instrumentation and Techniques Planning Requirements Bridge Scour Data Base System Surface-Geophysical Techniques Bridge Monitoring Systems Evaluation of Scour Potential at Bridges Assessments Modeling History of WRD Bridge-Scour Investigations Basic Ground Water Principles (1/2 - 1 day, flexible) Coordinator: Mike Strobel This course is designed by the Office of Ground Water as an introductory or refresher course on ground water concepts and terminology. The course is designed for scientific managers with little to no background in ground water. The course will cover the relation of ground water in the hydrologic cycle, ground-water terminology, forces acting on ground water, hydraulic head, Darcy's law, wellconstruction, aquifer tests, regional ground-water flow, basic ground-water chemistry, and ground-water contamination. Particular issues and concepts can be included in the course by prior arrangement. Instrumentation Update (1/2-1 hour) Coordinator: William G. Shope Jr. This briefing is intended to update WRD managers on issues related to field instrumentation and data relay. The presentation includes a summary of the activities of the Instrumentation Committee and the Instrumentation Technical Advisory Subcommittee. Emphasis will be on priority instrumentation support projects to include testing of equipment in the lab and field. Procedures for districts participating in requirements identification, development and testing will be discussed. The briefing also will cover WRD coordination of instrumentation, in-house capabilities, funding and future plans. Hydroacoustics (1/2-1 hour) Coordinator: Russ Wagner This presentation is intended as a brief management overview of what a District can expect if they decide to use Acoustic Velocity Meters (AVMs) or Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs). These devices have certain applications, but some offices have committed to this technology without full understanding of the complete advantages and disadvantages of these systems. Surface Water Technical Reviews (1 hour) Coordinator: Russ Wagner This presentation summarizes findings from recent Surface Water Reviews. Many items consistently appear in many District Reviews. This OSW perspective should assist field managers in achieving more consistent products since they normally only see comments of reviews in their own Districts. ASTM Standards (1/2-1 hour) Coordinator: Russ Wagner This presentation describes the National and International Standards activities with ASTM and ISO and the relation to WRD methodology. In the past, the USGS developed methods that became the "defacto" industry standards, but this is changing as new problems, equipment, and techniques are being developed andnew players (agencies and consultants) enter the field. This presentation will coverhow the USGS can maintain an active role in methods development and standards. Financial Accountability for Program Managers (3 - 4 hours) Coordinator: Alice Sabatini This presentation deals with aspects of OMB Circular 34 and its implementation in the USGS. Specific guidance deals with project management and financial accountability at the District level. WRD guidance on managing programs and closeout will be covered. Reimbursable agreements will be covered along with billing and collection responsibility and the impact of write offs. Coping with, Preparing for and Responding to Audits (1 hour) Coordinator: Alice Sabatini This presentation covers dealing with auditors--when to expect an audit, how to prepare for one, how to talk to auditors, and how to respond to audit findings and recommendations. DOI Performance Management System (3 hours) Coordinator: Skip Schmidt This workshop presents an overview of the Department's New Two Level(Pass/Fail) Performance Management System. Participants receive instructions on developing a workplan on the one-page form, and coaching on the appropriate use of performance appraisal as a tool in effective Human Resources Management. Human Resources Management Issues: An Update (1 hour) Coordinator: Skip Schmidt What's new in Federal Human Resources Management? Latest developments from OPM, the Department, and the Bureaus on topics of interest and importance to super- visors, managers, and employees at all levels. Tailored Topics in Human Resources Management (1 to 4 hours) Coordinator: Skip Schmidt Topics include motivational theory, dealing with troubled employees, leader- ship, personality types, building self esteem, valuing differences, and organizational dynamics issues. Program can be built around specific identified needs.