Using NOAA Climate Forecasts with Hydrologic Assessment to Reduce Drought Vulnerability and Improve Water Management in Washington State
State-of-the-art climate forecasts, such as the NOAA Climate Prediction Center seasonal outlooks, offer the potential to mitigate drought damages through advance warning. Yet this potential is largely untapped by water managers; a gap remains between forecast products and their actual use.
This study will bridge the gap by working directly with users
in the transition of NOAA climate forecasts, coupled with hydrologic assessments,
to water resources
operations and drought management. Our focus is the high stakes and highly
drought-vulnerable Yakima River Basin, whose irrigated crops represent the
largest agricultural value in the state.
We are working with the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) in an application of the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), an effort of the Western Governors' Association, NOAA, the National Drought Mitigation Center, and other agencies.
Objectives are (a) to advance understanding of how to translate and integrate NOAA climate forecast products into decision-making, (b) to develop a process for working with users (e.g., water managers) in order to effectively transition forecast information into operations, and (c) to assess the net economic benefits of this forecast information for improving water management and reducing drought hazards.
Funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Anne C. Steinemann, PI, with Andrew W. Wood, Co-PI
Above: the Yakima River Basin. Photo: Washington Dept. of Ecology