ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WATER INFORMATION
SUBCOMMITTEE ON HYDROLOGY
HYDROLOGIC FREQUENCY ANALYSIS WORK GROUP
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TERMS OF REFERENCE |
I. Official designation. Hydrologic Frequency Analysis Work Group (Work Group) of the
Subcommittee on Hydrology (Subcommittee) of the Advisory Committee on Water Information (ACWI) |
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II. Purpose, scope, applicability, and functions.
Purpose. The overall goal of the Hydrologic Frequency Analysis Work Group is to
recommend procedures to increase the usefulness of the current guidelines for Hydrologic
Frequency Analysis computations (e.g. Bulletin 17B) and to evaluate other procedures for
frequency analysis of hydrologic phenomena. The work group will forward draft papers and
recommendations to the Subcommittee on Hydrology of ACWI for appropriate action.
Scope. The Work Groups will consider frequency
computation issues for all quantity aspects of the surface-water
component of the hydrologic cycle including stream flow, lake and
reservoir storage and estuaries. The Work Group will consider
policies, programs, and activities for the collection, analysis,
assessment, archiving, distribution, reporting and use of frequency
computation of stream flow, and related information in accordance with
all applicable federal laws, regulations, and guidelines.
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Applicability. As resources are available and
consistent with applicable legal requirements, organizations that
participate in the Work Group will implement recommendations and
voluntarily use the guidelines and procedures developed by the work
group for the Subcommittee on Hydrology and approved by ACWI.
Functions. The Work Group will foster the availability
and use, including training, of frequency guidelines for flow
information used for hazard mitigation, effective water-supply
planning, and natural resources management in the United States.
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III. Membership.
The Work Group shall have a membership of Federal, non-federal, interstate, State,
Tribal, local government agencies and private persons. No entities shall have more than one
member.
During meetings the Chair will announce membership applications received up to 2
weeks before each meeting.
The Chair and Vice Chair will be selected from among the
members. At the first meeting of the work group, the members will
elect a Chair and Vice Chair. The Chair and the Vice Chair will serve
until September 30 of the full year after the Work Group is formed.
Biannually thereafter, the Vice Chair will become Chair and the
members will elect a new Vice Chair to replace the Chair after 2
years. Also, the Vice Chair will serve in the absence of the Chair.
A special election will be held if either the Chair or Vice Chair
terminate their association with the Subcommittee before their terms
expire.
Members are expected to attend, in person or by teleconference,
all meetings of the Work Group. If a member does not attend at least
50 percent of the meetings in any year (October 1 to September 30),
the Chair will remove the member from the rolls. A member can be
reinstated one year later by informing the Chair of their desire to
renew their participation in the Work Group.
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IV. Meetings and procedures.
The Work Group will meet at least twice a year and at other times as designated by the
Chair. The Chair will determine the dates, times, and locations of the meetings in consultation
with the members. The Chair will be responsible for announcing meetings 2 months in advance
and distributing agendas and information about meetings to all members at least 2 weeks in
advance of the meetings.
Members of the Work Group will receive no pay, allowances, or benefits from the
Subcommittee or the ACWI. All travel expenses will be borne by the individual member
organizations.
The Work Group will conduct business in an open fashion by discussing and attempting
to resolve all issues through consensus and by recognizing the legitimate interests and diverse
views of the Work Group members. If complete agreement cannot be reached on a specific
issue, then the following procedures will apply:
A consensus will exist unless one or more members request a vote.
Once a vote is requested, the Chair will poll the voting
members. An affirmative vote of a majority of the members present
will constitute approval of a motion. Two-thirds of the members will
constitute the quorum necessary for a formal vote. Each member except
for the Chair may cast one vote. In the event of a tie, the Chair
will cast the deciding vote. The chair will record how the votes were
cast.
The Chair will sign and forward to the Chair of the
Subcommittee decisions of the Work Group that are proposed advice,
guidance or recommendations intended for implementation. Members may
prepare minority reports and provide them to the Chair within 3 weeks
of a decision. Such minority reports will be forwarded along with
majority reports.
Meetings of the Work Group will be open. Each meeting will include time for
individuals who are not members to make statements or to have written statements distributed
during the meeting.
The Chair will prepare and distribute minutes with action items of Work Group meetings
to members and to the Chair of SOH.
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V. Termination. The Chair of the Subcommittee has the authority to terminate the Work
Group in consultation with the Subcommittee. At least 60 days notice must be provided in
advance of termination. |
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VI. Subordinate groups. For assistance in conducting its business, the Work Group may
establish groups for a specific purpose and time period with approval of Subcommittee. Such
groups will gather information, conduct research, analyze relevant issues and facts, and draft
proposed position papers and recommendations for deliberation by the Work Group. These
groups will be established by the Chair and will have the balanced perspectives and knowledge
necessary to perform their assigned functions. Representatives that serve on subordinate groups
may include persons that are not members of the Work Group, but that provide knowledgeable
and interested individuals needed to carry out the assigned tasks. All subordinate groups will
serve for the time necessary to complete the action for which they were formed. The Work
Group will review the status of subordinate groups each year and terminate those that have
completed their assignments. |
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VII. Authority. The Work Group will work under the SOH as part of the
Water Information Coordination Program mandated by OMB Memorandum No. 92-01,
dated December 10, 1991. The Work Group reports to the SOH of ACWI that operates
under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The Work Group is not separately
chartered under FACA. |
Dates of Approval: Approved by the Subcommittee on
Hydrology on October 12, 1999. |
Advisory Committee on
Water Information |
Subcommittee on Hydrology |
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Signed: December 15, 1999 |
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Ethan T Smith
Executive Secretary,
Advisory Committee on Water Information |
Thomas H. Yorke
Chair, Subcommittee on Hydrology |
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