Invited Speaker in Climate Linked Economics: Realized Benefits of Balancing Competing Purposes at US Army Corps of Engineers Reservoirs by Using Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations.

A recent policy change within the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) allows forecasted conditions to be officially used in planning future water management operations. Since 2014, the USACE has been a key partner in a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary research and development effort called Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) that has been exploring implementation of this policy change by researching how improved forecast skill, hydrologic modeling and observations can inform water management decisions at a series of pilot study locations. FIRO viability assessments are conducted through the use of a Research And Operations Partnership (RAOP) that brings together scientists, engineers, reservoir operators, regulators and stakeholders to assess the potential. Viability assessments conducted at these pilot reservoirs have demonstrated, through a series of approved deviations from current water control procedures, the potential for FIRO to significantly improve water availability, flood risk management and ecosystem benefits all without costly infrastructure modifications.

This presentation will discuss the benefits that have been realized at pilot sites so far through the use of approved deviations to test FIRO scenarios. These benefits have proven to have real-world economic value in improved water availability in both wet and dry years, improved flood risk management benefits and improved ecological outcomes for salmonids and other species as greater flexibility in water management operations allows for better timing of releases for spawning cycles and temperature control. Application of FIRO at sites where it is proven viable also provides greater flexibility for water managers to adapt to the challenges of climate change with weather extremes of drought and flood occurring with increasing frequency, all without the need for expensive and lengthy structural changes. The presentation will also include discussion of USACE efforts to assess FIRO suitability at the nationwide portfolio of USACE reservoirs.