Meeting Logistics   
Attendees
Town Meeting
Agenda and Meeting Minutes
Tuesday Notes Wednesday Notes Thursday Notes
Pending Action Items
Action Items

Constituent Reports:

Senior Staff Report
Data Chiefs Report
District Chiefs Report
AO Report
Study Chiefs Report

Data Chief -- Richmond, VA

Welcome and Introductions/Agenda Review
Presented by: Pat Lambert (Chair)

Pat kicked off the meeting with a Welcome and Introductions/Agenda Review, Introduction of ITAC members and GIO guests, and Introductions of KY WSC Staff.

Kentucky Water Science Center Overview
Presented by: Bill Guertal
Expected Outcome: Overview of the Kentucky Water Science Center

15th state, Seven states touch the state boundary of KY
About 40 employees
Center Director shared with IN WSC
Paducah and Williamsburg Field office. Paducah office will be moving to Murray.
Sediment Lab
1 EPN employee
Admin Officer is shared with Michigan
Do you need 2 field offices? Yes due to travel time between the offices and level of program.
Web page overhauled 6 months ago.
Center strengths of key emphasis areas -  

• Water availability and their WATER suite of tools
• Coal ash slurry pond assessment and monitoring
• Large River Hydrology Program
• Emerging Contaminants
• Flood Inundation Mapping

Funding Trend. $3.9 million would like to get number up to $4 million. About 55% of funds from reimbursable program.
180 real time gaging stations, 44 water quality monitors. Growth has been in urban areas.
No ground water network.
13,000 cost per gage

Center Challenges –

• Retirements of three lead techs
• Cost of new technology in a tight funding environment

Opportunities – Common wealth approach  - combining Centers management, administration, and IT and technical support.

• Opportunities to enhance program development with IN staff
• Bill will be running IN and KY as two separate centers. At least another year.
• Benefits:
• 90 combined staff between the 2 centers.
• Greater resources for working on new technologies
• Chance to try something new
• Better integrated science
• One purpose of building a WSC Commonwealth in Midwest Area to leverage staff at a time of declining state funding and increasing WSC administrative and technical support costs.
• AO travels one week a month to other center.
• IT is shared between IN and KY

Kentucky Water Science Center IT Overview
Presented by: Loren Kloft
Expected Outcome: Information Exchange

IT Section, 2 FTE KY (3.7 FTE for the combined Centers)
3 offices (Louisville, Williamsburg and Murray): Paducah moving on campus to Murray. Murray will be set up with a L2L connection. (Internet connection to provide a USGS connection)  Only 3 people currently in the Paducah field office.  

Supports 41 full time staff: Sediment Lab, 27 WSC employees and 9 other group members using

• Desktops, 36
• Notebook, 38
• Technicians have one notebook and port
• Project chiefs generally have 2, one desktop and laptop.

Unix based systems and Infrastructure

• NWIS Server,
• 1 LRGS, Gateway E4200 Redhat Linux
• 1 internal Web Server
• 1 NAS device and tape library
• eAD Domain controller

Running own local internal web server
Running Citrix
Site Visit- no complaints.

Windows

• EAD Domain Server
• 1 application server
• Windows Terminal Server, PowerEdge 4600 (RAID 5)
• 5 member servers: 3 in WSC and 1 in each field office
• 2 work stations (ghost console, software share)
• Telephone control for VOIP 

GIS projects are done on workstation or desktop then project data is stored on the “authoritative site” for GIS data.

Back-ups

• Windows snapshots 3x daily
• Tapes stored offsite
• Overland storage tape library, 29 tape capacity

4 users have PR accounts – high end users, techs and project chiefs do not have PR accounts.

Budget for IT, 200,000 with salaries. Equipment purchases are paid out of overhead.

Techs are using D620s and D630s. A few PDAs.

Town Hall Meeting - ITAC Updates to Attendees
Expected Outcome: Information Exchange

NWIS Update (Susan T.)

• NWIS release 4.9 is currently being installed.
• Privacy Data required a lot of behind the scene type of work for NWIS team
• Cyber seminar planned on what is new in ADAPs
• 4.10, improvements for water quality verification checks.
• 4.10 improvements to GWSI retrieval system
• New app for ground water, GIS capability
• Improvements to ADAPS, time series data
• Improvements to site visit, improve performance issues and how it performs over the network.
• Water use data, AWUDS will be a much more robust data mgt system.
• 120 days of unit value on the web.
• Under the hood work for web services.

Office of Water Information – role of OWI (Katherine Lins)

• David McCulloch is OWI GIS lead.
• OWI funds Karen Hanson out of Utah. Watershed boundary component as part of the NHD Program.
• NWIS and ADR Mapper out of OWI, David McCulloch is lead
• HQs IT support for UNIX servers in OWI.
• Provide contract support for Ingres licensing, Sun maintenance.
• OWI in process of redesigning Water Home pages. Briefed senior staff in water on this new effort .  Hope to have new page by the end of Oct and foundation for other offices to use if they would like to. Kim Martz does the web development.
• OWI funds and oversees some special projects for example, field computing.
• OWI involved in redesign of Annual Data Report, Gary Fischer is the lead for this. We do have an advisory committee for this.

Bureau GIO from CTO – Paul Exter

• Telecom –
  • Content filtering - Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Web 2.0 tools - DOI blocks these tools. The GIO is trying to rewrite the Internet acceptance policy to use web 2.0 tools. We currently have a waiver for the use of Google video and YouTube. We are close to getting permission to use Twitter.  DOI Dept. has approved twitter requests and we are now waiting for the final word from the Office of Communications. Next we will pursue Facebook, MySpace.
  • Content filtering - Engaging with DOI to change how content filtering will operate in a warned versus blocked fashion.  May be able to get it changed by the end of next year. National Weather chat service is opened to all WSCs. DOI has a YouTube channel that has been unblocked If you have sites that are being blocked that are legitimate, send email to service desk and they will get it unblocked within 24 hours.
  • Transitioning to new eRAS service, a browser based solution from the department.
  • Within next 3-5 months will have to use smart card for remote access. Smart cards will be required for 2-factor authentication for remote access by the first of the year for those who have smart cards.
  • 60 days password.  DOI requirement is 12 characters and 60 days. We currently have a waiver.

Question: Has anyone looked to moving toward, verifying through email? No. we don’t own DOI Learn or Gov Trip. We are trying to get AD to be the common source for authentication for everything.  FBMS will authenticate to AD.  Will we get to where every internal web site will have terms of use?  Will take that back.

Question: AD, my USGS, doesn’t seem to access our normal email directory. There is no lookup directory. Paul will take that back.

Question: on Wi-Fi devices.  Yes, you can have WiFi, just have to secure it.  There is a checklist that you need to set up a wife device.

• Secured Wireless devices are currently being piloted.  DOI Approved devices will come preconfigured. 
  • Secretary’s priority: Technology in Interior and how we aren’t maintaining good technology. New messaging systems for all DOI have become a Secretary of Interior priority. Transitioning over the next year and a half. Doesn’t want us in common services business.  Wants us to buy mail, unify messaging. Outsourced mail service.
  • Secretary of Interior desires Splash screens on log in for the DOI message of the day.  Paul requested that we have the scripts and message to test it.  Paul is proposing that all we do is put a little box that says, the Secretary’s messages are here so the user can click to see the messages as time allows.

Question: Can a Center use MiFi for remote access to share? Yes, but it must follow security protocols and be secure. There is a checklist.

Question:  Will USGS still allow access to USGS FTP sites? No restrictions to access -- DOI has allowed outside access waivers.

Kentucky WSC Presentations

WATER Project (Tanja Williamson)

• Generating a hydrograph for given precipitation source using TOP-model – validated water assessment tool incorporating various land covers and terrains.  Focused on non-Karst terrains
• Based on data base of basins - HUC 12’s; inputs include precipitation, soil characteristics, and ET parameters.  Assumes no inter-basin groundwater transfer. 
• NEXRAD data for precipitation, each day converted to grid and points and intersecting with basin area. Result is a physically based watershed model that simulates the variable-source area concept of stream-flow generation - assumes gradient is equal to land surface gradient.
• Wanted and used by cooperator to aid in developing water budgets Hydrologic Model, topography based hydrological model. Physically based watershed model that simulates the variable source area concept of stream flow generation.

"The hazards of NOT communicating hazards Effectively from Indiana Water Science Center(Scott Morlock)

• Floods, droughts, hurricanes.  People reply on our RT gage data during severe events.
• Bureau needs a national stream gage notification program using data from NWIS Web. The cooperators want this! Data Chiefs are trying to make this happen. We need more than just the RT data service in Natweb. A good example is Streammail.  USGS needs to create an IT infrastructure convenient for data mining. e.g. Streaming web content, Reverse 911.
• Key is that we need advanced IT infrastructure that supports hydrologic hazards through robust web serving RT data and GIS-based tool.  WaterWatch is an excellent example of a useful product.
• NOAA, FEMA, and local emergency entities are using media such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. USGS needs to open up to use of these tools.
• Reverse 911 system, emergency manager can generate alerts out. Push a button and an automated message calls all the addresses in a threatened zone. You can configure that if a gage reaches a certain level, we can call addresses in a certain area.
• Intermediate needs: Flood tracking tools, continuous records processing tools, Inundation mapping
• ADR pages are not popular.
• Public go to weather service web site because their web pages are content rich.
• NWS is using social scientists to help them communicate hazard warnings and forecast and to help design their next generation data delivery system.

Recommendations

• Headquarter initiative for leadership in entrepreneurial efforts.
• Establish committee to define needs and concept for Real Time (RT) Alert system.
• Further develop flood tracking chart product
• Elevate inundation mapping to a national initiative
• Develop tools to assist implementation of continuous records process.
• Educate USGS/DOI mgt on ramifications of some policies

Discussion on Automated Records Tool (ART)

• 11 Centers using it – more would if they could.
• Next release will interface with GRSAT.  ART is going to be the bridge between NWIS and Field Computing – strong support from ITAC members for ART.

Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) GIS Data Server for the Upper Midwest (Pete Cinotto)

• Objective to build an ArcGIS Data Server for all AML-related data initially centered on the OH river basins within the USGS MWA.
• Team consisted of OH, IN, KY and upper Midwest Environmental Science Centers.
• USGS needs to ensure and maintain consistent data standards in a national application.

Bureau CTO Update (including migration to Windows 7)
Presented by: Paul Exter

Telecom - Avaya mandatory contract for new phone systems per Scott Morton GIO will supplement center if they purchase a phone system that is less than the Avaya to make up the difference between their system costs and what Avaya system would cost. Steve Holder is still the POC.

Content filtering - Waivers for Video and YouTube currently. USGS is putting in for an Open Exception to Twitter should be approved within next 2 weeks. Starting to build case for Facebook. New media director for DOI is considering opening Web 2.0 tools for DOI.

eRAS- Will be migrating and turning off the CISCO solution. eRAS will also enforce the security requirement. They will be adding Cooperators to eRAS. They will be adding concentrator in WR to improve speed.

2-Factor Authentication – Will be getting it out to everyone this year.  Is a priority (Big  9) and in the budget so that WSC don’t have to pay for anything. The hardware and software are to be provided by the bureau.  For Remote access everyone will need a card. The GIO is making the case that field laptops can’t do this and it won’t work on Macs, or laptops without the built in reader.

Trusted Internet Connection: (TIC) - Federal government has too many connections to the Internet. USGS has five, DOI wants us to go down to two.  Have CO, AL, SD, CA, VA. – desired o move to only SD and VA. USGS need to communicate that this has negative ramifications for the hazards program especially earthquakes.

C&A POAMS – Jumped to 5,000 this year.  Requirement is that all systems must be patched.  This is a GIO responsibility. Therefore all PCs will be required to install the Microsoft client for the GIO to be able to monitor for security patches.  Will allow the GIO to stop sending a data call.  They are setting up a contract to patch the systems. Macs will be later this year.  – The IG identified the problem and we need to fix.

ePMR - Contract awarded for planning and implementation of MS SCCM for patch mgt reporting
Reporting to a central repository. Extended in late 2010 to Macs, required by Dec 2010
Small agent on every system and report patching to central repository Team lead by Willet Wilson, Nicole, BWTST is on team and Terri submitted a name from CA WSC.

eSEP - Established for planning and implementation of Symantec SEP 11 for centralized anti-virus management and reporting. Extended in late 2010 to MACs, required by Dec 2010. Kick off meeting next week in Denver. BRD is Leading Team - Bob Sowders is on Team (HI)  and John Parks

Data at Rest - Blackberry is the official device that will be supported.  If you lose your password to other devices there will be no support.  All external drives will be encrypted, and DOI will determine what drives are acceptable.  If the user loses the password the GIO supports the approved devices.  If other systems are used they have to be secure and not have PII.

The GIO will not be encrypting laptops until this time next year. Vulnerability scans results will be sent to the Center three times and then to the Regional Director.  (Paul took an action to make sure they go to the WSC Directors as well as the SA.)

Vulnerability Scanning - Directors don’t really understand the reports. Paul will work on this. Reports on critical vulnerabilities will be sent to office 3 times, then, the reports will go to the regions if vulnerabilities aren’t remediated.

AD - Migrations are done, working on getting MACs in AD.

Mac - 10.4, 10.5 supported with STIG, 10.6, Snow Lepoard,  delayed until SITG developed
Admit Mac used to migrate Macs to AD. GIO purchased it for Bureau.

Lotus –  The Bureau only renewed the Lotus maintenance contract for 3 months. . May be moving to Outlook by the end of 2010. The GIO doesn’t have funds available for the migration.

Implementing SharepPoint - GIO will support enterprise wide SharePoint implementation. Enterprise SharePoint should be in production by the end of  2009.

IT Reviews Update
Presented by: Terri Moore

The GIO agreed the NWIS/IT reviews were important and will continue to support.  Terri, Katherine and Paul will meet and discuss reviews for 2011.  2010 reviews have already been identified. Action - Terri to work with Paul on who will participate in the 2010 reviews.  The GIO will have to share resources between the regions. 

Mobile Computing - PDA's and NWIS 4.9
Presented by: Burl Goree

SWAMI- release in Jun 09

• New grid style input for readings
• WinRiver II import function
• Rating plot
• Future plans are to add 9-207 view of data and further development of sync with NWIS, and to have a better integration with CHIMP

CHIMP 09

• Add direct read capability
• Add integration with SWAMI

Station Levels

• No work in 09
• FY10 Work, will be redesigned for new SOP by Terry Kenny
• Will allow connection to TopCon and Trimble levels

MONKES

• Will be modified to allow for SV output
• Will incorporate more screening tools

NHD Overview
Presented by: Jeff Simley

NHD is a seamless living database with advanced capabilities and relational features. The Original data is from the topographic map. Now they are adding functionality and finer scale.  NHDPlus predicts estimates of flow using unit runoff method, correlating upstream area with flow at gages. Can predict flow at non-gaged sited by estimating upstream area, creating catchments using elevation, and WBD data, can estimate flow in cfs.   Some States are trying to build NHDPlus over their states for linear referencing for 303d impaired waters. They want to link permits to reach. There are 23,000 streamgages linked to NHD and available on-line to the public.  USGS concern is whether the NHD is accurate, i.e. where meanders have changed.  State Stewards can keep NHD up –to-date better than USGS. Therefore they established a NHD stewardship program.  The NHD program works through these stewards.

Briefing on Council on Data Integration - What's being said about Data.gov, access to NWIS Data, What's the Powell Data
Presented by: Sandy and Bob

"Alert" programs briefing and demonstration
Presented by: Shaun Wicklein

• Shaun surveyed data chiefs.  38 responses.  33 have alert.  It is beneficial. 24 said they would contribute funding but depends on cost.  Begin with NC alert system.
• Jeanne Robbins – North Carolina  – ALERT user can specify the stage level – can decide whether they want to receive text or email response.  ALERT message links to RT in NWIS and the hydrograph.  Sends out most recent RT value not necessarily the highest. The user can see the hydrograph though.
• About 95% code development for the North Carolina ALERT program was by students.  Nelson and Ramona guiding the development. 
• NC can show any U.S. sites.  Jeanne Robbins hopes it can be the prototype, would run off NatWeb.
• Brian McCallum, “GA cooperators would use it for drought alerts.” 
• Dave Briar looking at hits to NWIS Web.  Good proof of concept, could be developed to handle broader use. Would be willing to serve as a consultant.

Question: Robert Mason “What kind of developer is needed?”
Answer: Dave Briar “From NWISWeb?  A little testing”

• Nelson Williams wants to see this coordinated by NWIS Web.  WRD needs to determine where the development server would reside.  Briar is willing to service a consultant but outside NWISWeb activity.

K Lins -  "We need to establish a team to develop requirements"
Robert Mason  - "Does not object to provide some funding for a team small dollar amount."

• Bob Swanson would contribute time and travel for his person.
• Jeanne  is willing to host meeting in NC

Gary Fisher - "we need to look long term. Will discuss in NWUG"

ACTION Shaun to work with McCallum to put together a team.

• Robert Mason reasonably sure they can fund some if requirements approved by ITAC and Joe Neilson

Field Video Conferencing Solutions
Presented by: Boyce Blanks 

• For $90 you can get a camera for desktop or laptop.  
• Sandy was nominated to be on the Director Video conferencing panel but has only heard from the individual in charge of the team once.

Town Hall Meeting and other Action Items
Presented by: Pat Lambert  

• First Center that has commented that they were using MyUSGS.
• Why do we have to repeat sign rules of behavior? Paul  Action Item
• Improving vulnerability reports that go to Center Directors, so they make sense to them. Paul Action Item.
• Action Item ART  (Automated Records Tool) is popular for centers that are using it.  ITAC will try to learn more from Data Chiefs  if there is an  interest.   Burl will work with Kevin and work with IN to see what the costs would be. Should OSW do this or ITAC?  Shaun and Kevin to work on a call to data chiefs. Katherine to try to get ART on the Agenda for the Data Conference

Training Survey Discussion

Agree on the following Action Items

• Solaris SA Training in Denver. Terri to discuss with Shaun and Susan.  Will set up one class and determine if a second class needs to be scheduled.
• Terri to draft up email to Kevin, copy to Paul, forwarding training survey. Identify what WRD will be sponsoring in 2010.
• Burl will develop a WebEx for PDA Basics
• NWIS will not be able to conduct DBA training until Jan 2011.
• Kevin will work with Joel, Sonia and Brian to have different module DBA training on WebEx. ODBC application tool seems to have the highest need for training.

Webinar Series

• Clustering and Parallel processing – next one up to be set up in December, 2009. Multiple groups participating in a panel discussion.
• WebCam WebEx – March/April  David Yancey.
• Road Warriors training, tips and tools for mobile users WebEx by Nicole Bogejas. Mobile users, syncing  files, etc. Date moved to January

Dave McCulloch to work with the GIO to coordinate putting GIS training together.  David to give his presentation to Kevin.

ITAC membership

• Possibilities to add Web expertise to ITAC - Ramona Traynor, lives in Ft Collins but is assigned to N. Carolina, suggested for Web rep on ITAC. Katherine will follow up.
• Pat Lambert, current Chair, will be rotating off.
• Bob Swanson nominated as the next Chair, nomination accepted.
• Dave Berger remains as Vice
• Need to find another WCS Director to replace Bob. Bob Swanson will recruit Director.