Watershed Data System: Overview

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Watershed Data System Overview

• Jean L. Steiner, E. John Sadler, Jin-Song Chen
• Greg Wilson, David James, Bruce Vandenberg
• John Ross, Teri Oster, Kevin Cole
• ARS El Reno, OK Columbia, MO Beltsville, MD
  Ames, IA Fort Collins, CO

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ARS Watershed Research

• USDA has conducted watershed research since early
  1900s
• Many watersheds are still operational
• Data managed locally and disseminated
  independently
• Accessibility has limited visibility and utility
  of these data

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CEAP Team 1 Goal

• To develop and implement a web-based data system
  to organize, document, manipulate, and compile
  climate, water, soil, land-management, and
  socio-economic data from ARS research watersheds
  for assessment of conservation practices and
  other hydrologic analyses

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STEWARDS Architecture
Clients
Data Providers
Central Site
ARS users Research users Public users
Data Management System ArcGIS 9.2 Search
Engine Visualization Tools
Web Browsers Netscape Internet Explorer
FireFox
DB Administrator
Network Administrator
Software Developer
DB Designers/Team 1
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Challenges

• Data not uniform across (or within) sites
• No single organizational unit has necessary
  knowledge, skill set or mandate
• Communication within heterogeneous team
• Competing demands on time for all team members
• Uncertain funding beyond annual budgets

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Unique aspects of system

• Flexible to accept highly heterogeneous data
• Ability to capture and communicate rich
  descriptive data
• Bringing time-series and other measurement data
  into spatial context
• SiteID, DateTime, and Watershed ID as primary
  keys

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Typical Watershed Data

• Descriptive data
• Watershed Descriptions
• Site Descriptions
• Spatial data (and metadata)
• Watershed boundary
• Digital elevation, streams, soils, land use, etc.
• Sites
• Measurement data (and methods)
• Climate, hydrology, water chemistry, sediment,
  etc
• Land management, conservation practices, soils,
  etc.
• Biological assessment, economic data, etc.

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Tools for preparing data tables

• Access templates
• Query Scripts
• Data table construction tool
• Method Table Builder
• Parameter Description Builder

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System Requirements
Metadata Requirements
System Design
Develop Prototype Systems
Implement System Design Release For Alpha Test
to Development Team
Refine based on Alpha Findings, Release to CEAP
Watersheds for Beta Test
July, 2007
Refine based on Beta Findings, Public Release
Winter, 2007/8
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Beta ReleaseJuly, 2007

• Implemented with data from some ARS Benchmark
  Watersheds (cropland)
• Data preparation and uploading ongoing
• Training on data preparation ongoing
• Available to CEAP research team
• On-line users manual, technical documents will
  be provided

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Version 1 ReleaseBy Spring, 2008

• Will be implemented with data from ARS Benchmark
  Watersheds (cropland)
• Will be available to public access
• On-line users manual, technical documents will
  be provided
• STEWARDS will be publicized through conferences,
  journals and web sites

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Keys to success

• Integrated, iterative approach
• Accepting ambiguity and uncertainty
• Careful definition of priorities considering
  available resources
• Open communication, respect
• Trust
• Shared commitment to mission
• Strong support from agency and within CEAP team

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Ongoing efforts

• Data preparation and upload
• Long-term operational plan
• Long-term management structure
• Researchers, operations, leadership
• Meeting diverse expectations of diverse users

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Challenges within ARS

• Lack of IT support system for national program
  and multisite research programs.
• Inconsistent data management skills within
  research units
• Lack of peer network across research data
  managers

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Accomplishments

• STEWARDS system developed on schedule, according
  to requirements, within resource limits
• Innovative partnerships within agency and
  externally established
• Three journal manuscripts in review or preparation

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Mission
To provide access to data and analytical tools to
facilitate multidimensional watershed research
and conduct analyses to support individual-,
organization-, and policy-level decision making
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Parameter Descriptions
Parameter Name, modifier, medium, temporal
resolution, summary statistic, units
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