NWS Southern Region Director Bill Proenza addresses conference as (L to R) National Hydrologic Program Director Gary Carter, West Gulf River Forecast Center HIC Tom Donaldson and DOH Bobby Corby look on (Photo: Ron Trumbla, NWS Southern Region)
(July 29, 2008) - More than two dozen hydrologists from the NOAA National Weather Service Office of Climate, Weather and Water Services; Southern, Eastern, Western and Central Regions; and, the agency's 13 River Forecast Centers met in Fort Worth to kick off the 2008 National Weather Service Hydrologists Conference.
Southern Region Director Bill Proenza and National Hydrology Program Manager Gary Carter opened the biannual event, which is designed to help map the future of the National Weather Service Hydrology Program.
Some of the topics included an update on the status of the Community Hydrologic Prediction System, an overview of the recent floods in the mid-west, the Hydrology Science Plan, the Integrated Water Resources Science and Services and the a strategy session for migration to the Advanced Weather Interactive Processor Systems II.
Our Nation's freshwater supply is critically stressed by a growing population, population migration to more arid states, urbanization, and climate change -- especially in environmentally sensitive areas along the coasts. Additionally, United States flood damage, from 1995 through 2006, averaged over $6 billion per year. Improving fresh water forecasting and decision tools are crucial to the national well-being and commerce.
For more information on the National Weather Service Office of Hydrologic Development, visit: http://www.weather.gov/oh.
HIC Conference attendees (Photo: Ron Trumbla, NWS Southern Region)
NWS National Hydrologic Program Director Gary Carter addresses conference (Photo: Ron Trumbla, NWS Southern Region)