Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations
FIRO is a reservoir-operations strategy that better informs decisions to retain or release water by integrating additional flexibility in operation policies and rules with enhanced monitoring and improved weather and water forecasts (American Meteorological Society; 2020).
FIRO is being developed and tested as a collaborative effort in the Russian River Basin (Lake Mendocino), the Santa Ana River Basin (Prado Dam), and the Yuba-Feather River Basins that engages experts and stakeholders in civil engineering, hydrology, meteorology, biology, economics and climate from several federal, state and local, universities and others. There is significant interest and support for developing FIRO at other appropriate locations in the Western U.S. and elsewhere.
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Steering Committee Co-Chairs Jay Jasperse (Sonoma Water) F. Martin Ralph (Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes at Scripps Institution of Oceanography) Members Michael Anderson (California State Climate Office, Department of Water Resources) Levi Brekke (U.S. Bureau of Reclamation) Nick Malasavage (US Army Corps of Engineers) Michael Dettinger (CW3E, formerly U.S. Geologic Survey) Joseph Forbis (US Army Corps of Engineers) Alan Haynes (Caifornia Nevada River Forecast Center, NWS) Joshua Fuller (National Marine Fisheries Service) Cary Talbot (US Army Corps of Engineers) Robert Webb (NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratory) Support Staff Arleen O’Donnell (Eastern Research Group) Rob Hartman (RKH Consulting Services) Nathan Pingel (HDR Inc.) Michael Konieczki (HDR Inc.) Related Documents |
Lake Mendocino Final Viability Assessment Appendix
Appendix A – Forecast Verification Studies – Assessing Quantitative Precipitation and Inflow Forecast Skill for Potential FIRO for Lake Mendocino – Assessment of Current Forecast Skill Supporting the PVA of FIRO on Lake Mendocino – Delaney et.al 2020 WRR – Supporting Information
Appendix B – Water Resources – Varied Guide Curve Alternative – Consequence Analysis Procedure – Alternative Analysis Results Metrics: Existing (Baseline) Conditions – Alternative Analysis Results Metrics: EFO Alternative – Alternative Analysis Results Metrics: Hybrid Alternative – Alternative Analysis Results Metrics: Modified Hybrid Alternative – Alternative Analysis Results Metrics: 5-day Deterministic Alternative – Alternative Analysis Results Metrics: Alternative Comparison – Hydrologic engineering management plan (HEMP)
Appendix C – Planned Major Deviations – 5-year Major Deviation for Lake Mendocino – Water Year 2019 Major Deviation Request Cover Letter – Water Year 2019 Major Deviation Request – Water Year 2020 Deviation Request Lake Mendocino
Appendix D – Meteorological Research – AR Forecasting Products for Situational Awareness – Subseasonal Forecasts – Research and Development – Week 1 Forecasts – Research and Development
Appendix E – Hydrological Research – Hydrologic Model Improvement
Appendix F – Water Resources Engineering Research – EFO Model Research and Development
Appendix G – Economic Benefits – Coming soon
Appendix H – Environmental Studies – Lake Mendocino and Upper Russian River Water Temperature Model
Appendix I – References |