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National Water Management Center History
Background information:
The South Central Water Management Center (SCWMC) was established in November
of 1995, as part of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
reorganization, to provide leadership, assistance, information, and technology
on water-related issues for natural resources conservation in the South Central
Region (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas). Internal and external
customers have been involved since the forming of the
SCWMC so that
the Center's activities have been in response to customer identified needs
and/or requests.
In January of 1998, the scope of the Center was expanded to a national focus.
Organizationally, the National Water Management Center (NWMC) is part of the
Conservation Engineering Division. Functions and activities of the
NWMC are based on
input from NRCS
at the State level and above. The vision is for the NWMC to become a
multi-agency support center of professionals helping to address water resource
problems across the nation. Emphasis is being placed on collaborating with other
federal water resource agencies to collectively support the locally led
conservation process.
The NWMC is built on the underlying concepts that made the Center a success;
such as linkage to states (bottom-up approach), direct assistance in helping to
implement water-related conservation on the ground, technical and programmatic
expertise, customer orientation, focus on watershed scale, transferring
technology available today, and utilizing a team based approach.
NWMC activities have addressed water resources and watershed issues
identified by the Conservation Partnership in the South Central Region. The NWMC
has served as a focal point for water resources information exchange and
specialists have been available to help with the watershed approach.
The business plan for the NWMC is dynamic and flexible. Anyone interested in
providing input or requesting assistance is encouraged to contact a NWMC staff
member.
NWMC's Five Major Functions
The NWMC consists of an interdisciplinary, multi-agency team of regional
consultants helping implement water-related project activities and providing
support and training on water-related issues. Functioning in five key areas:
direct assistance, technology transfer and delivery, water resources planning,
water policy interpretation and program support, and partnering and joint
ventures.
Direct Assistance
- Provide consultative assistance to states as requested regarding
water-related issues including water quality, hydrology and hydraulics, ground
water, agricultural water management, stream restoration, manure management,
CNMPs,
TMDLs, environmental
compliance, and outreach to non-traditional clients.
- Provide direct assistance to state and regional specialists in developing
strategies to address complex water issues.
- Assist in completing tasks for complex water-related projects and/or
identify sources of additional support required to sufficiently complete
tasks.
- Assist with and/or lead pilot projects, demonstration projects, field
trials or other unique water resource activities.
Technology Transfer and Delivery
- Provide leadership in technology transfer and training for existing
water-related technologies.
- Collaborate with NWCC,
WSSI and others to
provide technology transfer and training for new technologies.
- Work closely with NWCC, WSSI and others to identify and communicate
technology development and research needs and help develop strategies for
addressing priority needs.
- Acquire technology from other water resource entities when necessary to
meet customer needs.
- Provide assistance in the development and review of technical materials
such as practice standards, handbooks, and manuals.
Water Resources Planning
- Provide technical leadership, guidance, support, and expertise for water
resources planning including PL 566/534 projects, river basin studies
including flood plain management studies, program neutral planning,
RC&D
projects, WRP projects,
and EQIP
projects.
- Provide technical leadership, guidance, support, and expertise for
planning aspects of watershed restoration efforts including PL 566/534
rehabilitation projects, partially completed PL 566/534 projects, and
environmental restoration projects.
- Provide peer review for complex watershed-scale plans as requested by
state level specialists and/or NHQ
specialists including projects requiring higher levels of concurrence.
- Provide support for watershed-scale planning including area-wide planning,
site-specific planning, holistic watershed approaches, cumulative effects,
rapid watershed assessments, water resources decision support systems, and
electronic water resources information systems.
- Provide leadership and support for completing training in watershed
planning to specialists as needed.
- Provide assistance to help state-level specialists develop the skills,
resources and/or tools including
GIS and computer
models necessary to apply water resources planning concepts independently.
Water Policy Interpretation and Program Support
- Collaborate with WWD
to provide PL 566/534 water resources policy and programmatic assistance to
states.
- Collaborate with
AHCWP and
the Science and Technology Consortium to provide water quality policy support
to states including
AFO/CAFO, CWAP,
nutrient management, and TMDLs.
- Work closely with NHQ Divisions including WWD, AHCWP,
COD,
CED, and others
to evaluate impacts of water-related legislation, policy, and initiatives on
natural resources conservation.
- Serve on national task forces to address water-related issues such as
watershed rehabilitation,
NEPA, ESA, CWAP,
AFO strategies, outreach to traditionally under-served clients, irrigation
water management, ground water quantity, etc.
Partnering and Joint Ventures
- Develop and enhance NRCS relationships with other federal water agencies
to improve federal support of locally water management.
- Collaborate with academia, non-governmental organization, and others as
needed to accomplish objectives.
- Work closely with NWCC, WSSI,
NDCSMC and others within Science and Technology Consortium.
- Improve outreach and delivery of water-related programs to non-traditional
clients.
- Partner with other entities to enhance NRCS water resource technical and
planning capabilities.
NWMC Mission Statement
The National Water Management Center (NWMC) serves as the production support
center for NRCS in providing leadership, direct assistance, information, and
technology on water-related issues for natural resources conservation.
NWMC Values
- Service to Customers
- Quality of Work
- Integrity
- Professionalism
- Team Work
- Equality
- Partnering with other Conservation Agencies/Organizations
- Watershed Approach
- Diversity
- Conservation Ethics (Sustainability)
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