123STA T . 133 8PUBLIC LA W 111 – 11 —M A R .3 0, 200 9SEC.9506 . C LIMAT EC H A NG EAN DW ATE R INTRAG OV ERNMENTAL P ANEL. (a)ESTABLI S HMEN T .—TheS e cr e t ar y a nd the A d mi ni s trat o r sha l l esta b lish and lead a climate chan g e and w ater intrago v ernmental p anel— ( 1 ) to review the c u rrent scienti f ic understanding of each impact of global climate change on the q uantity and quality of freshwater resources of the U nited States
and ( 2 ) to develop any strategy that the panel determines to be necessary to improve observational capabilities , e x pand data acquisition, or ta k e other actions— (A) to increase the reliability and accuracy of modeling and prediction systems to benefit water managers at the F ederal, State, and local levels; and ( B ) to increase the understanding of the impacts of climate change on aquatic ecosystems. (b) M EMBE R SHI P .—The panel shall be comprised of— (1) the Secretary; (2) the D irector; ( 3 ) the Administrator; ( 4 ) the Secretary of Agriculture (acting through the Under Secretary for N atural R esources and Environment); ( 5 ) the C ommissioner; ( 6 ) the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers; ( 7 ) the Administrator of the Environmental P rotection Agency; and ( 8 ) the Secretary of Energy. (c) RE V IE W ELEMENTS.— I n conducting the review and devel - oping the strategy under subsection (a), the panel shall consult with State water resource agencies, the Advisory Committee, drinking water utilities, water research organi z ations, and relevant water user, environmental, and other nongovernmental organiza- tions— (1) to assess the extent to which the conduct of measures of streamflow, groundwater levels, soil moisture, evapotranspiration rates, evaporation rates, snowpack levels, precipitation amounts, flood risk, and glacier mass is necessary to improve the understanding of the Federal G overnment and the States with respect to each impact of global climate change on water resources; (2) to identify data gaps in current water monitoring net- works that must be addressed to improve the capability of the Federal Government and the States to measure, analyze, and predict changes to the quality and quantity of water resources, including flood risks, that are directly or indirectly affected by global climate change; (3) to establish data management and communication protocols and standards to increase the quality and efficiency by which each Federal agency acquires and reports relevant data; (4) to consider options for the establishment of a data portal to enhance access to water resource data— (A) relating to each nationally significant freshwater watershed and aquifer located in the United States; and (B) that is collected by each Federal agency and any other public or private entity for each nationally significant Procedu re s.Stan dards. C onsu l tat i on. 42U SC 1036 6.
