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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

  1. 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.
  2. Provide direct assistance to state and regional specialists in developing strategies to address complex water issues.
  3. Assist in completing tasks for complex water-related projects and/or identify sources of additional support required to sufficiently complete tasks.
  4. Assist with and/or lead pilot projects, demonstration projects, field trials or other unique water resource activities.

Technology Transfer and Delivery

  1. Provide leadership in technology transfer and training for existing water-related technologies.
  2. Collaborate with NWCC, WSSI and others to provide technology transfer and training for new technologies.
  3. Work closely with NWCC, WSSI and others to identify and communicate technology development and research needs and help develop strategies for addressing priority needs.
  4. Acquire technology from other water resource entities when necessary to meet customer needs.
  5. Provide assistance in the development and review of technical materials such as practice standards, handbooks, and manuals.

Water Resources Planning

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Provide leadership and support for completing training in watershed planning to specialists as needed.
  6. 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

  1. Collaborate with WWD to provide PL 566/534 water resources policy and programmatic assistance to states.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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

  1. Develop and enhance NRCS relationships with other federal water agencies to improve federal support of locally water management.
  2. Collaborate with academia, non-governmental organization, and others as needed to accomplish objectives.
  3. Work closely with NWCC, WSSI, NDCSMC and others within Science and Technology Consortium.
  4. Improve outreach and delivery of water-related programs to non-traditional clients.
  5. 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)