Hydrology Professional Development Series (PDS) 1 : Provide Hydrologic Services

PCU 1: Develop and maintain partner, user, and intra-agency awareness and partnerships through collaboration

Producers:
Laurie Hogan, Hydrologic Services Division, Eastern Region Headquarters
Nicole McGavock, Service Hydrologist, Tulsa

Description of Job Competency to be Achieved :
Ensure the most efficient and effective operational collaboration, including communication, among all parties involved in performing operational tasks related to hydrologic events and water resource services.

Description of Need :
Recognition of internal and external partners and users needs and partnership opportunities is critical to building strong relationships with hydrologic stakeholders. NWS personnel need to understand how NWS products and services, as well as the range of hydrologic events, impact partner and user decision making processes.

Abilities/Performance Elements:
Identify partners and users groups within federal, state, tribal, and local stakeholders to develop close working relationships to enhance operational efficiencies. These liaison activities include:

Ability 1. Identify partners and users, their needs, and their decision making criteria to address these needs. Skill 1.1. Explain the different roles, responsibilities, and needs of internal/external partners and users by gathering information from stakeholder websites, professional meetings and discussions. Information and knowledge gathered should include: Agency chain of command Agency mission and goals Agency methods of operation Agency levels of support Agency special communication protocols IC Title: HPM Course Lesson 2 Partners and Communication Type: Formal Training URL/location: http://training.weather.gov/nwstc/Hydrology/hpm/lesson2/index.html Skill 1.2. Describe how our role in meeting partners and users needs must be consistent with the NWS mission. IC Title: IDSS PDS: Unit 1 Baseline IDSS Training Type: Formal Training (in LMS) URL/location: https://doc.csod.com Skill 1.3. Review best practices and service assessments to adapt and make collaboration efforts most effective. Skill 1.4. Discuss the NWS role in the use of services from our customers and users (e.g. USACE forecasts, USGS data, inundation maps, impact information, dam operator information). Skill 1.5. Conduct education sessions with partners and users on NWS products and services, as well as forecast methodologies and production schedules. Skill 1.6. Identify opportunities (e.g., Silver Jacket/multi-agency meetings, annual Emergency Management drills, flood preparedness and mitigation initiatives) where the NWS can communicate our available products and services, discuss opportunities for improvement, and share educational materials.

Ability 2. Build and maintain positive relationships with our partners and users. Skill 2.1. Build trust and credibility by providing timely responses to needs and requests. Skill 2.2. Identify opportunities to enhance and improve NWS hydrologic services. Skill 2.3. Actively seek opportunities to learn from our partners and users and partners. Skill 2.4. Resolve relationship issues with partners and users when differences have caused conflict. Skill 2.5. Identify and periodically review the appropriate contact person(s) for each partner and user group.

Ability 3. Incorporate partner and user needs into NWS hydrologic products and services to enable more effective decision-making. Skill 3.1. Explain how routine decision support services can assist partners and users both in the short- and long-term. Skill 3.2. Incorporate day-to-day, rapidly evolving, and locally specific partner and user needs. IC Title: Urban Flooding: It Can Happen in a Flash! Type: Formal Training (in LMS) URL/location: https://doc.csod.com Skill 3.3. Effectively communicate partner and user needs and requirements to NWS operational staff. IC Title: Impacts of a Vertical Datum Conversion on National Weather Service Hydrology Program and and Customers Type: Formal Training (in LMS) URL/location: https://doc.csod.com

Ability 4. Collaborate with NWS peers for effective forecast and warning services. Skill 4.1. Coordinate hydrologic events (e.g., QPF, streamflow routing, river crest forecasts, partner briefings), programs (i.e., establishing new forecast points, site specific, flash flood guidance, etc.), and non-operational activities (e.g., outreach,TADD, training opportunities). Skill 4.2. Perform hydrologic backup activities. Skill 4.3. Use communication tools such as listservs, NWSChat, and similar tools to coordinate, communicate, monitor hydrologic forecasts and warnings, and share questions/tips on software, data, etc. Skill 4.4. Coordinate hydrologic issues/events with (deployed/on-site) Emergency Response Meteorologist/Hydrologist. Skill 4.5. Conduct office visits and cross-training sessions with a focus on familiarization of operational procedures.

Ability 5. Collaborate with partners and users for effective planning, mitigation, forecast, and warning services. IC Title: Communicating Risks in High-Impact Events Type: Formal Training (in LMS) URL/location: https://doc.csod.com Skill 5.1. Coordinate hydrologic programs (flash flood, river flooding, water resources/drought, navigation forecast, etc) and activities (outreach events, training, establishment of categorical stages, special data collection efforts, etc.) through: information and fact gathering discussion of decision making criteria and likely actions taken by partners and users when that criteria has been met establishing operational thresholds and event procedures IC Title: Understanding Drought Type: Formal Training (in LMS) URL/location: https://doc.csod.com Skill 5.2. Use communication tools such as conference calls, list-serves, NWSChat, and similar coordination tools. Skill 5.3. Partner with partners and users for effective decision support services for long-term planning and mitigation efforts, including utilization of NWS hydrologic and climate outlooks. IC Title: Local Customer Outreach and Climate Services Type: Formal Training (in LMS) URL/location: https://doc.csod.com Skill 5.4. Recognize when high level and/or high visibility issues may need regional, national, or multi-agency level coordination (i.e. international topics, congressionals, prolonged hydrologic issues) and proactively initiate such efforts. Skill 5.5. Conduct office visits and cross-training/educational sessions. Skill 5.6. Conduct and debrief simulation exercises for high impact events/hazards to prepare for a real-world event.