Jerry Korol, NRCS
Gene Dana, USGS
Christa Braun, BLM
Leigh Bailey, Payette NF
Steve Garcia, USGS
Linda Davis, IDWR
Genna Ashley, IDWR

Karen Hanson, USGS – Utah (partial meeting)

The TWG group discussed the Hu_10_Mod and Hu_12_mod (modification) field and required attributes. There was confusion as to standards interpretation, so the group called Karen Hanson for clarification. The main issue was the wording of the description in section 7.2.9, which reads, "This field should identify any type of modifications to natural overland flow that alters the location of the hydrologic unit boundary……." The group asked Karen if a modification attribute should be populated only if the boundary line was altered, or should fields be populated if they are contained within a 5^th or 6^th field area. Karen stated that there were many different interpretations on this issue, and when this attribute was originally created, it was created to link to other tables of additional layers (i.e., NHD). The original intent was to capture the data if water was moving out of a sub basin, or crossing it. Utah coded all features so that they knew where something was interrupting the natural flow of the water, but other states have only coded where it alters the line. After Utah and some other states did their attributing, Kenny Legleiter clarified the issue and decided this field would only have to be populated if the features altered where the boundary went, and any other attributes were optional. Each state has interpreted differently, but the most important issue for certification will be to capture ANY modification that changed the watershed line. All other references to modifications that fall within the sub basins are good to keep, but won’t hold up the certification process. After much discussion the TWG decided to adhere to the following standards:

· In ALL cases where the actual boundary line has been modified from the natural flow – the appropriate code will be used.

· In areas where interbasin transfer is present, the code "IT" will be used, regardless of the boundary line. Unless otherwise noted, the type of transfer will be assumed "ID" (irrigation ditch), but will not be added as an attribute. Areas that are NOT "ID" will be coded with the appropriate attribute, i.e., "PD" or "SI".

· Dams and Reservoirs will be coded IF they fall on a boundary line.

· All other areas will be coded with "NM".

This procedure will be documented in the final metadata.

The group asked Karen how Lava areas should be coded. Karen replied that the "Karst" attribute could be used in these cases.

Karen Hanson discussed the recent funding issues that have impacted USGS and all states. EPA is heavily vested in the watershed delineation effort and is becoming more involved. Some of the remaining work may be completed in-house (EPA), instead of funding other agencies (USGS) to do the work. There are two main EPA offices – 1) EPA Region 5 in Chicago and 2) EPA Region 3 in Pennsylvania. Mike and Karen had provided training to these offices some time ago, and they are gearing up to begin some of the completion work in-house, possibly even ½ of the remaining hucs. EPA has identified high-priority hucs, based on "Impaired Waters" standards, and Idaho has seven of these areas. Some states have more and some less. California ended up with 2/3 of their state listed as a high priority area, and Washington barely had one huc. This will greatly reduce the amount of funding given to Idaho, from approximately $98,000 to $6,600, which will impact the work that is currently underway. Karen Hanson has been in contact with top management at EPA and requested a larger amount of money for Idaho, Oregon and Washington. After much discussion, Idaho has been approved for a total of $21,000 for Steve Garcia’s work, on a continuing resolution, which should help for about 2 months. Karen Hanson is working on additional funding and will know soon if the USGS, Forest Service, or BLM can come up with additional money to help. This will not affect the contract work between USGS in Utah and BLM in Boise.

Karen also mentioned that the status graphic on the IDWR website may be misleading and imply that Idaho is almost complete with the delineation process. Areas are ‘grayed out’ as they are draft approved for concept lines, but there is still much work to be done after that. Most areas still need to be digitized to 24k, and other required attributes (besides names and numbers) need to be populated. Karen Hanson will send Genna Ashley her status graphic, and Genna Ashley will revise the IDWR map to more accurately reflect the work that is remaining.

Karen Hanson needs the latest datasets from Steve Garcia and any new linework from Christa Braun. Steve Garcia is working on other projects and in limited capacity with watersheds until this funding is worked out, per management direction, but will try to get the data he has completed to IDWR and Karen Hanson (USGS-Utah). Christa Braun will send Karen Hanson the new linework BLM has completed, with a cc to Genna Ashley at IDWR.

The entire state now has DRAFT concept lines in place for 4^th, 5^th and 6^th fields. The remaining work to be done will involve 24k linework and final attributing of required fields. The TWG will now meet quarterly instead of monthly, and hucs will be sent out to each data steward for review as they are completed. Any issues, problems or questions that come up during this process will be put on the agenda and discussed during the quarterly watershed meetings.

Leigh Bailey stated that Rick Hobson has taken over the job vacated by Ken Heffner. Genna Ashley will put Rick Hobson on the watershed mailing list.

Genna Ashley will continue to work on 24k linework and the remaining required attributes for hucs that other agencies are not working on. After hucs are completed, she will send them off to the data stewards and any other interested parties for comments and approval.

Steve Garcia will send his completed linework to Karen Hanson (Utah USGS) and Genna Ashley (IDWR). Christa Braun will also send her linework to Karen and Genna.

Karen Hanson will send Genna Ashley a graphic of the WBD completion status. Genna Ashley will change the IDWR status map to more closely reflect Karen’s status map so that it more closely reflects the remaining work to be done in Idaho.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007 - at the Idaho Department of Water Resources in Boise, ID. The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m.

For directions and/or NetMeeting connections, please contact Genna Ashley at (208) 287-4880 genna.ashley@idwr.idaho.gov

***Subject to change before meeting***

The meeting concluded at approximately 12:00 p.m.