Meeting Minutes – TWG Meeting November 10, 2003

 In Attendance –

 Linda Davis, IDWR
Sandra Thiel, IDWR
Genna Ashley, IDWR
Leigh Bailey, Payette National Forest
Ervin Cowley, BLM
Al Rea, USGS
Roger Hirschman, NRCS

Via Phone Conference –

 Karen Hanson, Watershed Regional Coordinator, USGS – Utah (morning)
Kenny Legleiter, Watershed National Coordinator, NRCS – Texas (morning)
Valdon Hancock, Sawtooth National Forest (afternoon)

The meeting began at approximately 10:00 a.m., MST

SPECIAL PHONE CONFERENCE

 Karen Hanson and Kenny Legleiter joined the TWG Meeting to discuss numbering and naming criteria with the TWG.  It was determined that there were significant interpretation differences in the standards and Idaho numbering may be different from surrounding states.  The standard protocol expected from the National level is to begin at the uppermost tributary and begin as 01, then proceed downstream, and each number should flow into a larger number, with the highest number always being the exiting 5th field boundary (pour point).  Not all states, including Idaho, had interpreted these instructions from the standards when this effort was initiated several years ago.  Since there has been significant work already completed in Idaho with information tied to other data in the state and no official funding, Idaho will not be changing all numbers to match the national criteria.  Idaho will match numbers with neighboring states across state boundary lines for consistency purposes.  The Idaho TWG will revisit the numbering and naming issue again during the December 10th TWG meeting to decide how much numbering and naming changing should be done.  Genna Ashley will post the current Idaho watershed draft coverage on the state ftp site so Kenny Legleiter can download it and check for discrepancies.

 It was asked if there would be any money available at the Federal level to complete naming and numbering for the states.  Karen Hanson said that some states have been able to access a small amount ($5,000 - $10,000) of ‘319 money’ from the Clean Water Act.  After some discussion, it was determined that in Idaho it could be very difficult to obtain money from this source. 

  NEWS TO REPORT

Sandra Thiel reported that she had a conversation with Tracy Fuller (USGS), and there should be funding available to complete NHD in Idaho.  Pending a Presidential signature to release the funds, the money should be available sometime soon. 

  Idaho has submitted linework to Montana for the Lower Clark Fork, 17010213.  Montana will review the suggested changes and notify Idaho in the near future. 

  HUC REVIEW

  Big Wood 17040219 – Valdon Hancock from the Sawtooth National Forest joined via phone conference call, in cooperation with Erv Cowley, BLM to review this huc.  The following changes were identified:

Valdon stated that the linework previously done by Bonnie Ross was more 24k compliant than the current linework.  Erv Cowley stated that this new linework was derived from an automated process and the lines would need to be smoothed and then checked to complete the process.  Since some of these lines have previously been digitized, Erv Cowley will get the linework from either Valdon Hancock or Genna Ashley and use these lines to avoid having to smooth and check lines that had already been done.

There will be a 6th field name change for Amber Gulch 170402190106 to West Fork of the North Fork Big Wood River.

There will be a 6th field name change for Murdock Creek-Big Wood 170402190107 to Murdock Creek-North Fork Big Wood River.

Timber Creek may possibly be included with Greenhorn Creek 6th field within the Deer Creek-Big Wood River 5th field huc.  Valdon and Erv will check on this and decide.

The Quigley Creek 6th field huc needs to be checked at the pour point to the Big Wood River.  If the pour-point needs to be adjusted and this huc becomes sub-sized, it could be either grouped in with the Indian Creek-Big Wood 6th in the Deer Creek-Big Wood River 5th field, or with the Slaughterhouse 6th in the Magic Reservoir 5th.  Erv Cowley and Valdon Hancock will work on this and decide the best approach.

The Magic Reservoir 5th field will be renamed to Rock Creek-Big Creek because Magic Reservoir isn’t the dominant feature in that huc.

Erv Cowley will check the Black Butte Hills 6th field huc.  This is mostly lava flow but there has been pour point delineation and this will be checked. 

Erv Cowley will also check the Gwinn Cave 6th field huc pour point.

Erv Cowley stated that there are numerous problems that need to be fixed in the Thorn Creek 5th field huc and he will work on those.

The Tuttle-Big Wood River 6th will be renamed to Malad River.

There is a 4th field boundary line difference in this huc.  It is the addition of the Fuller-Big Wood River 6th field huc that has been added.  This was identified during the delineation process done by Karen Hanson and it does follow the high point on the ridge.

Erv Cowley will work on these changes and bring this huc back for a continuing review.

Salmon Falls 17040213 - – Valdon Hancock from the Sawtooth National Forest joined via phone conference call, in cooperation with Erv Cowley, BLM to review this huc.  The following changes were identified:

            The Hopper Gulch 6th field huc will be lumped together with the Shoshone Creek 6th field huc.

The Bottom Creek 6th field huc and West Basin Draw 6th field huc will be combined into one 6th field huc and renamed Hot Creek.

There is a 6th field numbering change in the Dry Creek 5th field.  Lower Dry Creek 6th will be 05 and War Eagle Draw 6th will be 06. 

There is a 6th field numbering change in the Salmon Falls Reservoir 5th field.  Cottonwood Creek will be 02 and Salmon Falls Creek-Salmon Falls Reservoir will be 01.

There is a 4th field boundary change next to the Salmon Falls Reservoir 5th field.  There is a no-name stream coming into Salmon Falls Creek

The 6th field hucs within the Cedar Creek 5th need to be renumbered; 01 will become 02, 02 will be 03, 03 will be 04, 04 will be 05.  06 and 07 will stay the same.

Erv Cowley will work on these corrections and then send them to Nevada for comment.  After the comments have been received from Nevada, this huc will be put on the agenda for a continuing review.

MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSION

  The TWG will put the naming and numbering issue on the next agenda for continuing discussion.

Erv Cowley would like to be on the December agenda for the Bruneau, Jordan, and Middle Snake-Succor hucs.

Because of limited scheduling options for the IDWR conference room, Al Rea will check into hosting the next TWG meeting at the new USGS office in Boise.  Al will check their conference room availability and let Genna Ashley know if this is confirmed.

ACTION ITEMS:

Genna Ashley will get a copy of the draft watershed coverage on the IDWR ftp site for Kenny Legleiter.

Erv Cowley and Valdon Hancock will continue to work on the Salmon Falls and Big Wood hucs and bring them back for a continuing review.

The naming/numbering issue for Idaho will be discussed at the next TWG meeting in December.

Al Rea will check into conference room availability at the USGS office for the next TWG meeting.

NEXT SCHEDULED TWG MEETING (S):

Tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, December 10, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. in the USGS conference Room, 230 Collins Road, Boise, ID.

***Subject to change before meeting***

The meeting concluded at approximately 3:30 p.m., MST.