Reclamation awards $4.6M for Snow Water Supply Forecast Program

DENVER -Reclamation awarded $4.6 million to five projects to advance snow monitoring technologies for water supply forecasting. Projects awarded include an additional $4.6 million in cost share funding, totaling over $9.2 million in investment for snow monitoring.

"Reclamation is thrilled to announce this award to advance five pivotal projects focused on snow monitoring advancement," said Reclamation's Senior Advisor for Research and Development Levi Brekke. "Our Research and Development Office remains dedicated to supporting innovative solutions that address critical water challenges and foster sustainable practices for our communities."

Reclamation's Research and Development Office sought proposals for projects implementing airborne lidar snow surveys for the improvement of water supply forecasting and water management decision making. All of the selected projects include acquisition of lidar snow survey flights, demonstration of the use of lidar snow survey data in water supply forecasting, and the development of techniques to maximize the value of the snow survey data for water supply forecasting.

Funding Awardees:

Arizona State University: Fusing Airborne and CubeSat Methods for Snow Estimation and Supply Forecasting into Salt River Project Reservoirs.
Reclamation Funding: $974,265
Total Project Cost: $1,274,265

Friant Water Authority: Snow Water Supply Forecasting in the Upper San Joaquin River Watershed
Reclamation Funding: $ 702,169
Total Project Cost: $ 3,556,798

Oregon State University: Fusing LIDAR and In-Situ Community Measurements to Improve Estimates of Snowpack
Reclamation Funding: $ 946,203
Total Project Cost: $ 1,198,187

Oregon State University: The utility of aerial LiDAR snow surveys to improve water supply forecasts across the western United States: comparing the relative importance of current snow conditions and future weather
Reclamation Funding: $ 971,862
Total Project Cost: $ 1,230,504

Utah Division of Water Resources: Wings Over Weber
Reclamation Funding: $ 975,844
Total Project Cost: $ 1,951,689

Reclamation's Snow Water Supply Forecast Program aims to enhance snow monitoring and to advance emerging technologies in snow monitoring and subsequent water supply forecasts. The program activities are working to build climate change resilience by enabling improved water management. To learn more and read full project descriptions, please visit the program website.

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