Apr
15
Message From the President
April 15, 2010 | Posted by smcclung
1 Comment
Ari M. Michelsen, President AWRA
The GIS Sixth Specialty Conference in Orlando was unbelievably terrific under the leadership of Sandra Fox of the St. Johns Water Management District, Technical Program Chair Francisco ‘Paco’ Olivera, Texas A&M University, and a host of Committee members who gave generously with their time and talent. The proceedings and conference information is available at: http://awra.org/orlando2010. One of the highlights of the conference was the presentation to David R. Maidment of the AWRA Award for Exemplary Contributions to Water Resources Data and Information Systems. But, there was also another surprise for David. The Board of Directors voted that this award will have a new name beginning January 1, 2011. In honor of his many outstanding and lasting contributions the name of this award will become the David R. Maidment Award for Exemplary Contributions to Water Resources Data and Information Systems. David was deeply moved by this honor and recognition. This was a magnificent way to honor a man who has truly made a difference in the water resources GIS community.
National Water Census
No matter what your discipline, water resources data and information are essential for water and related resources assessments, planning and management. A new program has been initiated by the U.S. Department of Interior (USDOI) to develop a National Water Availability and Use Assessment Program (informally called a National Water Census). This National Water Census is part of USDOI’s broader Water Smart Initiative and is mandated under the Secure Water Act of 2009. The Secure Water Act calls for several assessments of the status of water resources in the U.S., the quantity of water that is available for beneficial uses, quality of water resources, long-term trends in water availability and development of a basis for an improved ability to forecast availability. The first report is required by 2012 and it is to be updated every five years thereafter. A USGS implementation team has been created to develop a draft Water Census plan and a Stakeholder ad hoc Committee has been established to work with the Implementation Team to review and improve the concepts, efforts and products for inclusion in the Water Census to best meet stakeholder needs. The American Water Resources Association has representation on the Water Census Stakeholder Committee. The output from this Committee will be a report this June/July to the USGS Associate Director for Water.
Previous USGS five-year water use reports focused on water withdrawals. A critical element in assessing water availability is the amount of water consumptively used. One of the recommendations being made is to develop data and information on consumptive use. Knowledge about consumptive use is necessary for accounting for water availability in hydrologic and water use budgets. In terms of a financial budget, the USGS currently plans to apply approximately $9 million in FY2011 funds to five major areas: hydrologic networks and analysis (2/3 of the total); groundwater resources program; biological research and monitoring; geographical analysis and monitoring; and the national cooperative geologic mapping program.
Community, Conversation, Connections
Speaking of changes in water availability and use, the Summer Specialty Conference will bring together water resource professionals to address Tropical Hydrology and Sustainable Water Resources in a Changing Environment, August 30-September 1, at a great location, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Information is available at: http://awra.org. I look forward to seeing you there!
Dr. Warren “Bud” Viessman, Jr.
There is sad news for the water resources community. This April we lost Dr. Warren “Bud” Viessman, Jr. Bud was truly a leader in the water resources community. I was fortunate to have known Bud through both the AWRA and the Universities Council on Water Resources of which he was a founder. In AWRA Bud served on the Board of Directors 1985-87, as President in 1990 and in many other capacities. His service to AWRA has been honored and his many contributions to the water resources community received recognition through AWRA President’s Award for Outstanding Service in 1999, Henry P. Caulfield, Jr., Medal for Contributions to National Water Policy in 1996, Icko Iben Award for outstanding contributions to the promotion of communication among the various disciplines concerned with water resources in 1983 and as an AWRA Fellow Member in 1992. Bud was responsible for establishing three AWRA awards, the William C. Ackermann Medal for Excellence in Water Management, Henry P. Caulfield, Jr., Medal and Mary H. Marsh Medal for Exemplary Contributions to the Protection and Wise Use of the Nation’s Water Resources. Bud was passionate about and a leader in promoting integrated water resources management and interdisciplinary education in water resources. He was instrumental in establishing an interdisciplinary graduate degree program in water resources at the University of Florida, one of a few successful programs nationwide. Bud was a luminary in water resources who made contributions far beyond his field of engineering to enlighten us all on the need for integrated water management for long-term sustainability.
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