Meeting Notes
Monthly USGS/USFWS Director’s Meeting
July 29, 2003
Attendance: Steve Williams, Chip Groat, Marshall Jones, Dan Ashe, Sue Haseltine, Paul Schmidt, Graham Smith, Steve Henry (shadowing Marshall Jones).
Director Williams suggested that the next meeting (August) should be held at the USGS Headquarters, in Reston, VA. He would like to visit the facility, and has not had the chance to do so. Director Groat agreed and suggested that their monthly meeting might then be followed by some presentation and discussion with other USGS staff.
USGS provided a briefing on progress inefforts to addressing operational needs at
the Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL).
Band Supply: USGS has increased
budget from about $120K in 1999-2000, to about $280K in 2003, including $50K
for hard metal (i.e., sea duck) bands; currently have a 21.5 year supply of larger (i.e.,
waterfowl bands); continuing problems with backordered limited supplies of
smaller bands which they are addressing with vendors. Complaints about band supply have been much reduced.
Band Quality: USGS has implemented a vendor compliance program, including internal, random checks for quality, which seems to have addressed past issues with poor quality bands. Complaints about band quality have been much reduced.
Data Management: USGS has converted to an Oracle
client-server system to begin building the “relational database” that the
community has been demanding for years; Band Manager softwareSoftware allows
electronic submission of banding data, and they are working on web-based data
entry and retrieval capabilities.
Toll-free number for reporting is operational in U.S. and Canada and
service issues have been addressed (78% of band reports now come through the toll-free
phone line). Currently, toll-free
number is not available in Mexico. USGS
and FWS staff will be meeting to discuss this issue further and will report at
future meetings between the two Directors.
Reward
Band Studies: USGS is using FWS funds
for processing reports and payments.
Over 2000 rewards paid in ’02-’03; future expansions to cover Snow and
Canada geese, and
Mourning doves and Wood ducks
are anticipated.
.
BBBL Staffing: USGS is filling key positions; Oracle
programmer and waterfowl biologist to work with states and flyways; BBL Chief
(GS-14) will be advertised this summer.
Proposed BBL Taskforce: USGS proposes that the two bureaus join in
forming a FACA chartered taskforce to chart future vision and course for
BBL. Director Williams said he was
encouraged that USGS views Service as an equal partner and principal client for
BBL. He expressed concern that “core
mission” of BBL be maintained and that the proposed taskforce not set
unrealistic expectations that might be well intentioned but result in dimunitiondiminution of BBL
core mission. Director Groat agreed
that support for the bureaus’s’ needs is
the first priority. Sue Haseltine and
Dan Ashe were asked to work on revisions to the proposed charter to address
these needs and concerns.
The final topic of discussion was to try and reach
resolution on dates for the USGS/FWS Science Summit, at NCTC. This will be a joint meeting of the
combined,
bureau
executive leadership and provide opportunity to develop personal
relationships, learn about bureau perspectives and priorities, and identify
ways to coordinate and communicate more effectively. The week of October 27 was selected. A two day
meeting is anticipated toward the end of thate
week. Further information will be provided within the next several
weeks.