Only minimal field work is planned as part of this project. The field work planned will mainly be survey grade Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) work and leveling surveys of stream channel cross sections. All survey data and computations will be reviewed for accuracy. All field data collected as part of this project will be managed according to USGS Nevada Water Science Center Data Management plan.
Modeling activity will be quality assured through project reviews as well as through a model review process. An initial project review at the very onset of the project will be provided by the USGS Office of Groundwater and one or more Water Science Field Team Groundwater specialists during the triennial review of the Nevada Water Science Center groundwater technical program in September 2015, and again during the evaluation phase of the project sometime during early 2018. Additional Water Science Center project reviews will occur annually or more frequently as needed throughout the life of the project.
Adequacy of model design and calibration will be evaluated collaboratively with hydrologists from Nevada Division of Water Resources and Desert Research Institute. Once Nevada Water Science Center and Nevada Division of Water Resources are satisfied with model design and calibration, the model will undergo additional review by technical experts within the USGS to ensure the model is sufficient for addressing the objectives of this proposal and to ensure the model is defensible.
The models will be archived according to USGS policies and will also be provided through electronic report appendix. Reports will be peer-reviewed and will follow USGS fundamental science practices.