USGS/NWS/USACE Annual Tri-Agency Coordination Meeting RAINFALL RIVER FORECASTING FUSION TEAM

1. USGS/NWS/USACE Annual Tri-Agency Coordination Meeting RAINFALL RIVER FORECASTING FUSION TEAM Chuck Shadie Mississippi Valley Division, USACE October 6, 2010

2. Fusion Team (Cell) • USACE formed team as a 2008 Midwest Flood after-action from the Rainfall-River Forecasting Summit (Oct 2008) • Main area of focus, Mississippi River Basin • Member Agencies - USACE, USGS, NWS • USACE members – 3 Divisions and 2 Districts • USGS members – Nat’l Flood Coordinator and • Data Chiefs from MO & LA Water Science Centers • NWS members – 5 River Forecast Centers and 2 • Regional HQs

3. Fusion Team Mission The Fusion Team mission is to improve the accuracy and utility of river/rainfall observations and river forecasts. The Fusion Cell is comprised of representatives from the National Weather Service, US Geological Survey and the US Army Corps of Engineers. The team works collaboratively to identify needed improvements and develop plans to implement those improvements given the current science, manpower and level of funding. The ultimate goal is to optimize the accuracy and utility of the forecasts provided to the Public in accordance with all applicable regulations.

4. Issues cited from Oct 2008 Summit • More effective communication and operations were needed between the agencies • River observation and forecast discrepancies caused confusion • Record levels extended beyond rating curves • Difficult to forecast record stages • Needed levee information earlier • Rainfall forecasts lower than actual rain • Flood Impact statements incorrect or inadequate

5. Fusion Team Focus Areas • Enhance communication and coordination • Ensure cross agency training and operations • Ensure accurate data available concurrently to agencies • Implement technical forecast improvements • Track river forecast performance

6. Accomplishments • Enhance Communications for Flood Operations • Web-Based Pre-Flood Briefings • NWS Chat – Instant Messaging • Tri-agency test conducted prior to 2010 flooding • Expanded use in 2010 Midwest flood extremely beneficial • Interagency Flood Playbook - Define agencies’ flood response procedures • Cross Agency Flood Operations • Cross Utilization of Agency Staff and Expertise • Embedded USGS and USACE liaisons at NWS RFC during 2009 Red River of the North and 2010 Midwest floods to improve coordination and communication between the agencies • Used Flood Event Playbook to plan and implement response to 2010 Midwest flooding

7. Accomplishments • Cross Agency Training • Fusion Team exercise at Annual USACE/NWS River Forecasters Workshop • USGS-conducted training on discharge measurement standards • Provide training on USGS flow measuring techniques to ensure interagency consistency • Seek other opportunities to Employ cross-training between agencies

8. Accomplishments • Ensure Accurate Data is Available Concurrently to All Three Agencies • Discharge Measurements • Ensure use of standard data collection practices • USGS/USACE comparison study of different instruments • Stage & Discharge Data • Common Interpretation of onsite/offsite gage corrections • USACE/NWS made operational changes to account for USGS drawdown corrections to data • Streamgages • Developed procedures for tri-agency requests for USGS rapid deployment gages (RDG) • Developed gage inventory identifying responsible agency and maintenance points of contact

9. Accomplishments • Technical Forecast Improvements • Rating Curve Extensions • Listing/Prioritizing Gages during events • Co-develop HEC-RAS models for the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers • River Forecast Performance • Operational Collaboration • Closer collaboration to develop a single consistent forecast • Forecast Development • NWS currently implementing new river modeling system incorporating HEC-RAS • USACE assisting by: • Supplying existing HEC-RAS models to NWS • Supplying Technical POC’s to assist NWS modelers

10. Additional Activities • Flood Summit II Oct 19-20, 2009 • Sought public feedback • Inform Public of river forecast improvements in past year • Summit II Report completed March 2010 & posted to web site. • Initial Fusion Team report completed in May 2010 – signed by 3 agencies – being posted to website • Fusion Team met in July 2010 in St. Louis • Stakeholder meeting to discuss their concerns • Develop metrics for performance • Develop IWRSS Regional Demonstration Proposal for Mississippi Basin to address forecasting 10

11. Fusion Team – Path Forward • Integrated Water Resources Sciences & Services (IWRSS) • “An innovative partnership of federal agencies with complementary operational missions in water science, observation, prediction & management.” • Continue reaching out to stakeholders to obtain feedback & communicate progress • Expand verification metrics • Provide guidance to • Annual Tri-Agency Meetings • Annual Water Control Meetings • NWS/USACE River Forecaster Workshops

12. Fusion Team Web Pagehttp://mvs-wc.mvs.usace.army.mil/fusion/fusion.htm