This week, CSDA joined a coalition of water agencies in requesting $10 million be included in the 2022-23 May Revise for the Atmospheric River Program to:
- Advance operational atmospheric river forecast tool integration with California's Department of Water Resources water supply management;
- Integrate Atmospheric River Program results and products into forecast informed reservoir operations (FIRO) to increase water management flexibility; and
- Continue innovations that improve atmospheric river, precipitation, and snow level prediction capabilities.
With improved precipitation and snow-level forecasting, full implementation of FIRO could allow the conservation of an additional 500,000 acre feet of water in some years throughout the state, significantly enhancing California’s water supply reliability while also mitigating flood risk. These promising water supply benefits would enhance community drought preparedness, including for natural ecosystems.
The State’s investment in this drought resilience tool is critical to ensure FIRO expansion, strengthen California’s drought resilience, and secure continued federal funding across multiple agencies.
Last year, Sonoma Water and Valley Water participated in CSDA's Virtual Special Districts Tour for state and federal officials and demonstrated the critical nature of their multi-agency pilot project of a next-generation radar system focused on atmospheric rivers.
Watch the Advanced Quantitative Precipitation Information Radar System video produced by CSDA for the tour.