Wine Country Times

Cutting-edge developments in the world of forecasting and new, more accurate forecasting methods have made it easier for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to optimize water-related resources at their Lake Mendocino reservoir. 

A report, collaborated upon by multiple agencies, outlines just how these forecasting tools and methods have helped the region to manage and use water in the most efficient and optimized manner possible. 

The door for this to become possible was opened with a change at the USACE in their water management policy that would allow weather forecasts to be used as tools in the planning of future reservoir operations and efforts to optimize the reservoir. 

The findings in the report were encouraging, enforcing the fact that the weather forecasts are a valuable tool and contribute to valuable optimization of the reservoir. Even more encouraging is the fact that these methods can be used in other reservoirs and the methodology replicated throughout reservoirs in California. 

"The Lake Mendocino FIRO project is an example of how multiple agencies can collaborate to collectively explore the potential of emerging technologies in observations and forecasts and create an adaptive strategy with multiple benefits for water management in a changing climate," Michael Anderson, a state climatologist with the California Department of Water Resources, said.

One of the main challenges to this in the past has been red tape put in place to help protect water resources. These restrictions, however, also put a halt on new innovations. With the door being opened to using modern tools for optimization, California agencies will have more power to properly allocate and optimize their water resources. 

The report that was recently released lays the groundwork for future work and developments to occur that would increase water access for residents of California and the surrounding areas.