ENHANCED UTILIZATION OF NWS HYDROLOGIC FORECAST INFORMATION

THE EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT OF WATER SUPPLIES IS BECOMING CRITICAL AT THE SAME TIME THAT WATER MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS ARE GROWING MORE COMPLEX. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE (NWS) IS ENHANCING ITS ABILITY TO PROVIDE FORECASTING INFORMATION; HOWEVER; MOST WATER MANAGERS ARE UNAWARE OF THE VALUE OF THE INFORMATION AND HOW IT CAN BE INCORPORATED INTO WATER RESOURCES OPERATIONS. RTI WILL EXAMINE WAYS IN WHICH NWS FORECAST INFORMATION CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVELY DISSEMINATED AND UTILIZED BY WATER MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS. RTI WILL ALSO INVESTIGATE THE ROLE OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN PROMOTING INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION AND USE. RESEARCH RESULTS WILL LEAD TO GREATER AWARENESS OF INFORMATION AVAILABILITY, INCREASED UTILIZATION OF THE INFORMATION, AND A CLEAR DEFINITION OF HOW THE PRIVATE SECTOR CAN COMPLEMENT THE GOVERNMENT IN ADDRESSING WATER MANAGEMENT INFORMATION NEEDS.