15 USC 9703 - Observations and modeling for total water prediction

Collapse to view only § 9703. Observations and modeling for total water prediction

§ 9701. Definitions
§ 9702. National Integrated Flood Information System
§ 9703. Observations and modeling for total water prediction
§ 9704. Service coordination hydrologists at River Forecast Centers of the National Weather Service
§ 9705. Improving National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration communication of future flood risks and hazardous flash flood events
§ 9706. Freshwater monitoring along the coast
§ 9707. Estimates of precipitation frequency in the United States
§ 9708. Interagency Committee on Water Management and Infrastructure
§ 9709. National Weather Service hydrologic research fellowship program
§ 9710. Identification and support of consistent, Federal set of forward-looking, long-term meteorological information
§ 9711. Gap analysis on availability of snow-related data to assess and predict flood and flood impacts
§ 9712. Availability to the public of flood-related data

§ 9701. Definitions

In this chapter:

(1) Administrator

(2) State

(Pub. L. 117–316, § 2, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4406.)

§ 9702. National Integrated Flood Information System

(a) In general

(b) System functionsThe Administrator, through the National Integrated Flood Information System, shall—

(1) provide an effective flood early warning system that—

(A) collects and integrates information on the key indicators of floods and flood impacts, including streamflow, reservoir release and diversion, precipitation, soil moisture, snow water equivalent, land cover, and evaporative demand;

(B) makes usable, reliable, and timely forecasts of floods;

(D) provides information described in subparagraph (A), forecasts described in subparagraph (B), and assessments described in subparagraph (C) at the national, regional, and local levels, as appropriate; and

(E) communicates flood forecasts, flood conditions, and flood impacts to appropriate entities engaged in flood planning, preparedness, and response and post-event flood extent, including—

(i) decision makers at the Federal, State, local, and Tribal levels of government; and

(ii) the public;

(2) provide timely data, information, and products that reflect differences in flood conditions among localities, regions, watersheds, and States;

(3) coordinate and integrate, through interagency agreements as practicable, Federal research and monitoring in support of the flood early warning information system provided under paragraph (1);

(4) use existing forecasting and assessment programs and partnerships;

(5) make improvements in seasonal precipitation and temperature, subseasonal precipitation and temperature, and flood water prediction; and

(6) continue ongoing research and monitoring activities relating to floods, including research activities relating to—

(A) the prediction, length, severity, and impacts of floods and improvement of the accuracy, timing, and specificity of flash flood warnings;

(B) the role of extreme weather events and climate variability in floods; and

(1) engage with the private sector to improve flood monitoring, forecasts, land and topography data, and communication, if the Administrator determines that such engagement is appropriate, cost effective, and beneficial to the public and decision makers described in subsection (b)(1)(E)(i);

(2) facilitate the development of 1 or more academic cooperative partnerships to assist in carrying out the functions of the National Integrated Flood Information System described in subsection (b);

(3) use and support monitoring by citizen scientists, including by developing best practices to facilitate maximum data integration, as the Administrator considers appropriate;

(4) engage with, and leverage the resources of, entities within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in existence as of December 27, 2022, such as the National Weather Service with respect to forecast and warning functions, the National Integrated Drought Information System, the Regional Climate Center, and the National Mesonet Program, to improve coordination of water monitoring, forecasting, and management; and

(5) engage with and support water monitoring by the United States Geological Survey—

(A) to improve the availability and continuity of streamflow data at critical locations through the deployment of rapid deployment gages and the flood-hardening of at-risk streamflow gauges; and

(B) to increase storm surge monitoring data through the deployment of additional storm surge sensors.

(d) Consultation

(e) Cooperation from other Federal agencies

(Pub. L. 117–316, § 3, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4406.)

§ 9703. Observations and modeling for total water prediction

(a) Partnerships

(1) In general

(2) Priority observations

(b) Maintained observations

(Pub. L. 117–316, § 4, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4408.)

§ 9704. Service coordination hydrologists at River Forecast Centers of the National Weather Service

(a) Designation of service coordination hydrologists

(1) In general

(2) Performance by other employees

(b) Primary role of service coordination hydrologists

(1) In general

Subject to paragraph (2), consistent with the analysis described in section 409 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (Public Law 115–25; 131 Stat. 112), and in order to increase impact-based decision support services, each service coordination hydrologist designated under subsection (a) shall, with respect to hydrology—

(A) be responsible for providing service to the geographic area of responsibility covered by the River Forecast Center at which the service coordination hydrologist is employed to help ensure that users of products and services of the National Weather Service can respond effectively to improve outcomes from flood events;

(B) liaise with users of products and services of the National Weather Service, such as the public, academia, media outlets, users in the hydropower, transportation, recreation, and agricultural communities, and forestry, land, fisheries, and water management interests, to evaluate the adequacy and usefulness of the products and services of the National Weather Service;

(C) collaborate with such River Forecast Centers and Weather Forecast Offices and Federal, State, local, and Tribal government agencies as the Director considers appropriate in developing, proposing, and implementing plans to develop, modify, or tailor products and services of the National Weather Service to improve the usefulness of such products and services;

(D) engage in interagency partnerships with Federal, State, local, and Tribal government agencies to explore the use of forecast-informed reservoir operations to reduce flood risk;

(E) ensure the maintenance and accuracy of flooding call lists, appropriate office flooding policy or procedures, and other flooding information or dissemination methodologies or strategies; and

(F) work closely with Federal, State, local, and Tribal emergency and floodplain management agencies, and other agencies relating to disaster management, to ensure a planned, coordinated, and effective preparedness and response effort.

(2) Other staff

(d) Additional responsibilities

(1) In general

Subject to paragraph (2), a service coordination hydrologist designated under subsection (a) may, with respect to hydrology—

(A) work with a State agency to develop plans for promoting more effective use of products and services of the National Weather Service throughout the State;

(B) identify priority community preparedness objectives;

(D) conduct flooding event preparedness planning and citizen education efforts with and through various State, local, and Tribal government agencies and other disaster management-related organizations.

(2) Other staff

(Pub. L. 117–316, § 5, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4408.)

§ 9705. Improving National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration communication of future flood risks and hazardous flash flood events

(a) Assessment of flash flood watches and warnings

(1) In generalNot later than 2 years after December 27, 2022, the Administrator shall—

(A) conduct an assessment of—

(i) the flash flood watches and warnings of the National Weather Service; and

(ii) the information delivery to support preparation and responses to floods; and

(B) submit to Congress a report on the findings of the Administrator with respect to the assessment required by subparagraph (A).

(2) ElementsThe assessment required by paragraph (1)(A) shall include the following:

(A) An evaluation of whether the watches, warnings, and information described in paragraph (1)(A) effectively—

(i) communicate risk to the general public;

(ii) inform action to prevent loss of life and property;

(iii) inform action to support flood preparation and response; and

(iv) deliver information in a manner designed to lead to appropriate action.

(B) Subject to subsection (b)(2), such recommendations as the Administrator may have for—

(i) legislative and administrative action to improve the watches and warnings described in paragraph (1)(A)(i); and

(ii) such research as the Administrator considers necessary to address the focus areas described in paragraph (3).

(3) Focus areasThe assessment required by paragraph (1)(A) shall focus on the following areas:

(A) Ways to communicate the risks posed by hazardous flash flood events to the public that are most likely to result in informed decision making regarding the mitigation of those risks.

(B) Ways to provide actionable geographic information to the recipient of a watch or warning for a flash flood, including partnering with emergency response agencies, as appropriate.

(4) ConsultationIn conducting the assessment required by paragraph (1)(A), the Administrator shall consult with—

(A) individuals in the academic sector, including individuals in the field of social and behavioral sciences;

(B) other weather services;

(D) floodplain managers and emergency planners and responders, including State, local, and Tribal emergency management agencies;

(E) other government users of the watches and warnings described in paragraph (1)(A)(i), including the Federal Highway Administration; and

(F) such other Federal agencies as the Administrator determines rely on watches and warnings regarding flash floods for operational decisions.

(5) National Academy of Sciences

(6) Methodologies

(b) Improvements to flash flood watches and warnings

(1) In generalBased on the assessment required by subsection (a)(1)(A), the Administrator shall make such improvements to the watches and warnings described in that subsection as the Administrator considers necessary—

(A) to improve the communication of the risks posed by hazardous flash flood events; and

(B) to provide actionable geographic information to the recipient of a watch or warning for a flash flood.

(2) Requirements regarding recommendationsIn conducting the assessment required by subsection (a)(1)(A), the Administrator shall ensure that any recommendation under subsection (a)(2)(B) that the Administrator considers a major change—

(A) is validated by social and behavioral science using a generalizable sample;

(B) accounts for the needs of various demographics, vulnerable populations, and geographic regions;

(D) accounts for necessary changes to federally operated watch and warning propagation and dissemination infrastructure and protocols.

(1) Watch; warning

(A) In generalExcept as provided in subparagraph (B), the terms “watch” and “warning”, with respect to a hazardous flash flood event, mean products issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, intended for use by the general public—

(i) to alert the general public to the potential for or presence of the event; and

(ii) to inform action to prevent loss of life and property.

(B) Exclusion

(2) Weather enterprise

(Pub. L. 117–316, § 6, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4410.)

§ 9706. Freshwater monitoring along the coast

(a) Data availability assessment

The Administrator shall assess the availability of short- and long-term data on large-scale freshwater flooding into oceans, bays, and estuaries, including data on—

(1) flow rate, including discharge;

(2) conductivity;

(3) oxygen concentration;

(4) nutrient load;

(5) water temperature; and

(6) sediment load.

(b) Data needs assessment

(d) Planning

(Pub. L. 117–316, § 7, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4412.)

§ 9707. Estimates of precipitation frequency in the United States

(a) DefinitionsIn this section:

(1) Freely Associated States

(2) United States

(b) In general

(1) shall better inform the public and provide information on—

(A) temporal and spatial distribution of heavy precipitation;

(B) analyses of seasonality in precipitation; and

(2) may serve as the official source of the Federal Government on estimates of precipitation frequency and associated information with respect to the United States.

(d) Requirements

(1) Coverage

(2) FrequencySuch estimates—

(A) shall be conducted not less frequently than once every 10 years; and

(B) may be conducted more frequently if determined appropriate by the Administrator.

(3) PublicationSuch estimates and methodologies used to conduct such estimates shall be—

(A) subject to an appropriate, scientific process, as determined by the Administrator; and

(B) published on a publicly accessible website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

(e) Partnerships

(f) Consultation

(g) Coordination

(h) Authorization of appropriations

(Pub. L. 117–316, § 12, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4413.)

§ 9708. Interagency Committee on Water Management and Infrastructure

(a) Establishment

(b) MembershipThe Water Policy Committee shall be composed of the following members:

(1) The Administrator.

(2) The Secretary of the Interior.

(3) The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

(4) The Secretary of Agriculture.

(5) The Secretary of Commerce.

(6) The Secretary of Energy.

(7) The Secretary of the Army.

(8) The heads of such other agencies as the co-chairs consider appropriate.

(d) Meetings

(e) General purpose and dutiesThe Water Policy Committee shall ensure that agencies and departments across the Federal Government that engage in water-related matters, including water storage and supplies, water quality and restoration activities, water infrastructure, transportation on United States rivers and inland waterways, and water forecasting, work together where such agencies and departments have joint or overlapping responsibilities to—

(1) improve interagency coordination among Federal agencies and departments on water resource management and water infrastructure issues;

(2) coordinate existing water-related Federal task forces, working groups, and other formal cross-agency initiatives, as appropriate;

(3) prioritize managing the water resources of the United States and promoting resilience of the water-related infrastructure of the United States, including—

(A) increasing water storage, water supply reliability, and drought resiliency;

(B) improving water quality, source water protection, and nutrient management;

(D) improving water systems, including with respect to drinking water, desalination, water reuse, wastewater, and flood control; and

(E) improving water data management, research, modeling, and forecasting;

(4) improve interagency coordination of data management, access, modeling, and visualization with respect to water-related matters;

(5) promote integrated planning for Federal investments in water-related infrastructure to enhance coordination and protect taxpayer investment; and

(6) support workforce development and efforts to recruit, train, and retain professionals to operate and maintain essential drinking water, wastewater, flood control, hydropower, water delivery, and water storage facilities in the United States.

(f) Cross-agency priority research needs

(Pub. L. 117–316, § 13, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4414.)

§ 9709. National Weather Service hydrologic research fellowship program

(a) DefinitionsIn this section:

(1) Assistant Administrator

(2) Decision support services

(3) Institution of higher education

(4) NOAA line officesThe term “NOAA line offices” means the following offices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

(A) The National Ocean Service.

(B) The National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service.

(D) The Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.

(E) The Office of Marine and Aviation Operations.

(b) Hydrologic research fellowship program

(1) Establishment

(2) Qualified individualFor purposes of this section, a qualified individual is an individual who is—

(A) a citizen of the United States; and

(B) enrolled in a research-based graduate program, at an institution of higher education, in a field that advances the research priorities developed by the Assistant Administrator under paragraph (7), such as—

(i) hydrology;

(ii) earth sciences;

(iii) atmospheric sciences;

(iv) computer sciences;

(v) engineering;

(vi) environmental sciences;

(vii) geosciences;

(viii) urban planning; or

(ix) related social sciences.

(3) Award guidelines

(4) Selection preference

(5) Placement

(6) Fellowship term

(7) Fellowship research prioritiesThe Assistant Administrator, in consultation with representatives from the NOAA line offices, the United States Geological Survey, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Army Corps of Engineers, as appropriate, shall develop and publish priorities for the conduct of research by fellows, which may include the following:

(A) Advance the collaborative development of a flexible community-based water resources modeling system.

(B) Apply artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities to advance existing hydrologic modeling capabilities.

(D) Improve visualizations of hydrologic model outputs.

(E) Advance the state of coupled freshwater and salt water modeling and forecasting capabilities.

(F) Advance understanding and process representation of water quality parameters.

(G) Advance the assimilation of in-situ and remotely sensed observations and data.

(H) Support the integration of social science to advance decision support services.

(I) Develop methods to study groundwater sustainability and estimate the efficiency of recharge management.

(1) AuthorityDuring fiscal year 2022 and any fiscal year thereafter, the head of any Federal agency may appoint, without regard to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, other than sections 3303 and 3328 of that title, to a position with the Federal agency a recipient of a fellowship under the program who—

(A) earned a degree from a program described in subsection (b)(2)(B);

(B) successfully fulfilled the requirements of the fellowship within the executive branch of the Federal Government; and

(2) Exercise of authority

(Pub. L. 117–316, § 14, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4415.)

§ 9710. Identification and support of consistent, Federal set of forward-looking, long-term meteorological information

(a) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Extreme weather

(2) Long-term

(3) Other environmental trends

(b) Identification and support of consistent, Federal set of forward-looking, long-term meteorological information

(Pub. L. 117–316, § 15, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4417.)

§ 9711. Gap analysis on availability of snow-related data to assess and predict flood and flood impacts

(a) In general

The Administrator, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Interior, and the Army Corps of Engineers, shall conduct an analysis of gaps in the availability of snow-related data to assess and predict floods and flood impacts, including data on the following:

(1) Snow water equivalent.

(2) Snow depth.

(3) Snowpack temperature.

(4) Snow and mixed-phase precipitation.

(5) Snow melt.

(6) Rain-snow line.

(b) Report

Not later than 180 days after December 27, 2022, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on—

(1) the findings of the gap analysis required by subsection (a); and

(2) opportunities for additional collaboration among Federal agencies to collect snow-related data to better assess and predict floods and flood impacts.

(Pub. L. 117–316, § 16, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4417.)

§ 9712. Availability to the public of flood-related data

(a) In general

(b) Cost

(Pub. L. 117–316, § 17, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4418.)