Advancing R2O through effective partnerships and professional development: Lessons from a CIROH academic institution

As CIROH moves into its third year, capacity is building at partner institutions to advance the research to operations pipeline and develop a workforce of early career professionals equipped with the skills and understanding needed to advance operational flow forecasting and risk communication. The University of Vermont is one of 14 academic partners in CIROH, with 15 currently funded projects led by 9 PIs and engaging over 60 faculty, post-doctoral research associates, undergraduate and graduate students, research staff, and research partners. Our work focuses on four key areas: (1) improved forecasting of streamflow for montane catchments, snow-dominated settings, and groundwater dependent systems, (2) improved representation of river channels to inform flow routing and inundation extents mapping, (3) extending streamflow predictions for water quality and harmful algal bloom forecasts, and (4) understanding users of streamflow forecast products, their perceptions of risk, and barriers to delivering effective early warnings to user communities. Development and use of novel sensors for precipitation and water quality, application of AI/ML in computation workflows, and engagement of diverse partners and audiences have provided opportunities to integrate across projects and build relationships. While we began work as a single institution, our efforts have expanded through robust partnerships with other CIROH academic and private partners, drawing on opportunities the cooperative institute offers to develop synergies and expand geographic scope. Professional development for our trainees has occurred through courses and working groups on water data analytics, machine learning, open science repositories, and model evaluation testbeds; a seminar series focused on career trajectories, operational practices, and flood challenges; and effective use of resources curated by the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Sciences Inc (CUAHSI). Our annual “all-hands” science meeting brings our academic community together with partners, practitioners, and stakeholders to build community capacity. Consortium-wide connections including the annual Developers’ Conference and NOAA and USGS partner engagement has similarly provided trainees with opportunities to engage across disciplines and build professional network connections. CIROH’s national leadership and our institution’s commitment of support for our water research community enable the synergies we have developed and provide a model for other federal agency-academic partnerships seeking to develop impactful research and training programs that advance national need.