Activities/Accomplishments of Activities/Accomplishments of the U.S. GOOS Steering the U.S. GOOS Steering

CommitteeCommittee

Mark Luther and Worth NowlinMark Luther and Worth NowlinSECOORA WorkshopSECOORA Workshop

Sept. 12, 2006Sept. 12, 2006

History of USGSCHistory of USGSC

The U.S. GOOS Steering Committee was formed The U.S. GOOS Steering Committee was formed in 1998 at the request of Dr. D. James Baker, in 1998 at the request of Dr. D. James Baker, Jr., Under Secretary for Oceans and Jr., Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere at NOAA, on behalf of interested Atmosphere at NOAA, on behalf of interested Federal agencies. The group was requested to Federal agencies. The group was requested to help in the development of information help in the development of information concerning options on how to match the needs concerning options on how to match the needs of user groups with the observations and of user groups with the observations and products required to meet those needs, products required to meet those needs, addressing what is working well, what is not addressing what is working well, what is not working well, the impediments we face at working well, the impediments we face at present, and the opportunities we face for the present, and the opportunities we face for the future. future.

History of USGSCHistory of USGSC

The The first meeting of the U.S. GSC was held 16 of the U.S. GSC was held 16 December 1998 in Washington, DC. December 1998 in Washington, DC. Reviewed the history of the Saxton/Weldon Reviewed the history of the Saxton/Weldon request and discussed responserequest and discussed responseOriginal U.S. GOOS Steering Committee Original U.S. GOOS Steering Committee members: T. Malone, W. Nowlin, C. Cooper, L. members: T. Malone, W. Nowlin, C. Cooper, L. Crowder, M. Davidson, L. Fu, E. Harrison, J. Crowder, M. Davidson, L. Fu, E. Harrison, J. Hindle, J. Mjelde, R. Molinari, Z. Powell, and S. Hindle, J. Mjelde, R. Molinari, Z. Powell, and S. Weisberg. Weisberg. Other Attendees: D. J. Baker (NOAA), M. Cole Other Attendees: D. J. Baker (NOAA), M. Cole (NOAA), M. Johnson (NOAA), P. Pan (EPA)(NOAA), M. Johnson (NOAA), P. Pan (EPA)

US GSC MembershipUS GSC Membership

ChairChair Worth NowlinWorth Nowlin Texas A&M UniversityTexas A&M UniversityVice-ChairVice-Chair Mark LutherMark Luther University of South FloridaUniversity of South FloridaVice-ChairVice-Chair Stephen WeisbergStephen Weisberg California Coastal Water California Coastal Water

Research Project AuthorityResearch Project AuthorityBob CohenBob Cohen Weathernews Weathernews Charlie ColganCharlie Colgan University of Southern MaineUniversity of Southern MaineMargaret DavidsonMargaret Davidson Coastal Services Center, NOAACoastal Services Center, NOAABrian DorschBrian Dorsch Marine Services & ConsultingMarine Services & ConsultingFrederick GrassleFrederick Grassle Rutgers UniversityRutgers UniversityEd HarrisonEd Harrison NOAA/PMELNOAA/PMEL

Paul KellyPaul Kelly Joint Ocean Commission Initiative Joint Ocean Commission Initiative Task Force Task Force

Phil MundyPhil Mundy NOAA/NMFSNOAA/NMFSJeffrey ReutterJeffrey Reutter Director, Ohio Sea Grant College Director, Ohio Sea Grant College

ProgramProgramEvan RichertEvan Richert State of Maine/USMState of Maine/USM

Liaison to Ocean.USLiaison to Ocean.US Tom MaloneTom Malone Ocean.US Office Ocean.US Office

Assist in the preparation of key documents for the Assist in the preparation of key documents for the development of the Integrated Ocean Observing development of the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS). System (IOOS). Nowlin and Malone reportNowlin and Malone reportFrosch reportFrosch reportTen-year Implementation Plan for Building a Ten-year Implementation Plan for Building a Sustained Ocean Observing System for Climate Sustained Ocean Observing System for Climate prepared by the Office of Global Programsprepared by the Office of Global ProgramsReport of the Ocean.US Workshop (Airlie House). Report of the Ocean.US Workshop (Airlie House). These reports provided the basis for establishment These reports provided the basis for establishment of the Ocean.US Office and for development of a of the Ocean.US Office and for development of a plan for the U.S. IOOS.plan for the U.S. IOOS.

Accomplishments of the USGSCAccomplishments of the USGSC

USGSC ActivitiesUSGSC Activities

Prepare a strategy for development of the U.S. Prepare a strategy for development of the U.S. coastal ocean observing system. coastal ocean observing system.

Provide “suggestions” to the federal agencies Provide “suggestions” to the federal agencies involved in development of the U.S. IOOS, involved in development of the U.S. IOOS, especially working through the Ocean.US Office.especially working through the Ocean.US Office.

Work with nascent regional associations to aid in Work with nascent regional associations to aid in the development of observing systems that the development of observing systems that conform to GOOS design principles.conform to GOOS design principles.

USGSC ActivitiesUSGSC Activities

Identify users and assess products Identify users and assess products needed from the coastal component of the needed from the coastal component of the U.S. ocean observing system. Assign U.S. ocean observing system. Assign priorities to users and products. This has priorities to users and products. This has been done on a regional basis; initial been done on a regional basis; initial assessments have been made for U.S. assessments have been made for U.S. Coastal regions.. Coastal regions.. Maintain awareness of draft and pending Maintain awareness of draft and pending national legislation bearing directly on the national legislation bearing directly on the development of a U.S. IOOS. Provide development of a U.S. IOOS. Provide inputs as feasible.inputs as feasible.

USGSC ActivitiesUSGSC Activities

Enhance awareness by users and Enhance awareness by users and government representatives of activities government representatives of activities related to the development of the U.S. related to the development of the U.S. IOOS. A Communications Subcommittee IOOS. A Communications Subcommittee was formed and encouraged the was formed and encouraged the development of a Communication Plan for development of a Communication Plan for the IOOS and the hiring of a professional the IOOS and the hiring of a professional communicator for the Ocean.US Office.communicator for the Ocean.US Office.

USGSC ActivitiesUSGSC Activities

Encourage pilot projects to further the evolution Encourage pilot projects to further the evolution of observing system elements.of observing system elements.

Maintain an inventory of studies of the economic Maintain an inventory of studies of the economic benefits of a GOOS and promote/encourage benefits of a GOOS and promote/encourage additional assessments. Studies of the economic additional assessments. Studies of the economic benefits of regional coastal observing systems in benefits of regional coastal observing systems in U.S. waters are of special interest. U.S. waters are of special interest.

Assist with the preparations for the Arlie House Assist with the preparations for the Arlie House Workshop and the follow-up report, particularly Workshop and the follow-up report, particularly budgetary requirements.budgetary requirements.

USGSC ActivitiesUSGSC Activities

Encourage Ocean.US to adopt an Encourage Ocean.US to adopt an Implementation Plan. Prepared a draft plan.Implementation Plan. Prepared a draft plan.

Encourage the NOAA Administrator to provide Encourage the NOAA Administrator to provide additional support to the U.S. contribution to the additional support to the U.S. contribution to the global (climate and marine services) module of global (climate and marine services) module of GOOS. Provide reviews of documents related to GOOS. Provide reviews of documents related to this module.this module.

Suggest and advocate for the formation of a Suggest and advocate for the formation of a National Federation of Regional Associations. National Federation of Regional Associations. Created concept of RA’s and NFRA, Drafted Created concept of RA’s and NFRA, Drafted IOOS Resolution, organized SummitIOOS Resolution, organized Summit

Why should USGSC continue?Why should USGSC continue?

Provide “unbiased neutral counsel”* for Provide “unbiased neutral counsel”* for IOOS entities, both federal and non-IOOS entities, both federal and non-federal – no other group has this chargefederal – no other group has this charge

Insure coordination with international Insure coordination with international GOOS activitiesGOOS activities

Provide Corporate memory, continuityProvide Corporate memory, continuity

Non-FACA – More flexibilityNon-FACA – More flexibility

* D. Martin, Personal Communication* D. Martin, Personal Communication

Highlights of US GSC XIIHighlights of US GSC XIIFeb. 8-10, 2006, CSCFeb. 8-10, 2006, CSC

Updates on RA’s, NFRA, Federal Legislation, Updates on RA’s, NFRA, Federal Legislation, Ocean.US, Private Sector activities, Global Ocean.US, Private Sector activities, Global Module of IOOSModule of IOOSDiscussion on what remains to be done to help Discussion on what remains to be done to help move IOOS forward move IOOS forward Overview of National Water Quality Monitoring Overview of National Water Quality Monitoring Network for U.S. Coastal Waters and Their Network for U.S. Coastal Waters and Their Tributaries Tributaries Report on IOOS Public Health Workshop, Report on IOOS Public Health Workshop, January 2006January 2006

Major foci for the futureMajor foci for the future

Defining the National BackboneDefining the National BackboneBuilding a North American GOOS Building a North American GOOS Regional Alliance Regional Alliance Re-orient IOOS focus on products rather Re-orient IOOS focus on products rather than observations Enhance U.S. than observations Enhance U.S. participation in the global component of participation in the global component of GOOSGOOSDefining the role of the U.S. GSC in IOOS Defining the role of the U.S. GSC in IOOS Education and OutreachEducation and Outreach

New InitiativeNew InitiativeDevelop straw plan for IOOS focusing on 3 Develop straw plan for IOOS focusing on 3 areas: Coastal Inundation/Disaster areas: Coastal Inundation/Disaster Resilience; Marine Operations; Public Resilience; Marine Operations; Public Health; to build upon Implementation PlanHealth; to build upon Implementation Plan

Will convene “expert teams” in each areaWill convene “expert teams” in each area

Straw plans will be merged and given to Straw plans will be merged and given to RA’s and Federal Agencies for review RA’s and Federal Agencies for review

How can this activity be coordinated How can this activity be coordinated with/contribute to IOOS-RFQ with/contribute to IOOS-RFQ development?development?

Next meeting Sept. 13-14, 2006Next meeting Sept. 13-14, 2006

Major topics:Major topics:

Future structure, leadership of USGSCFuture structure, leadership of USGSC

Development of Global GOOS Development of Global GOOS

Developing the IOOS within the Federal Developing the IOOS within the Federal government government

Regional Development of the Coastal Regional Development of the Coastal component of the IOOS component of the IOOS

An initial design for the U.S. Coastal IOOS An initial design for the U.S. Coastal IOOS

IOOS Education and Outreach IOOS Education and Outreach

Options for the futureOptions for the future

Remain independent – would allow Remain independent – would allow maximum flexibility but must find stable maximum flexibility but must find stable source of fundingsource of fundingBecome subcommittee of ORRAP – would Become subcommittee of ORRAP – would provide stable funding but would limit provide stable funding but would limit activityactivityBecome subcommittee of Ocean Studies Become subcommittee of Ocean Studies Board – stable funding but potentially Board – stable funding but potentially more restrictivemore restrictive

Alliance for Coastal TechnologiesPartner Institutions

Gulf of MaineOcean Observing System

Monterey Bay AquariumResearch Institute

University of MichiganCooperative Institute forLimnology & Ecosystems Research

Moss Landing Marine Laboratories

Skidaway Instituteof Oceanography

University of Alaska