Reclamation Information Sharing Environment (RISE)

In Water Year 2022, three snow-on Airborne Snow Observatory (ASO) flights were completed in the Carson, Tahoe, and Truckee Basins. The ASO data was integrated into the California-Nevada River Forecast Center (RFC) models to produce experimental runoff forecasts. Results of the RFC’s standard and experimental runoff forecasts were run through the Truckee River Operating Agreement (TROA) Reservoir Operations RiverWare model. Actual reservoir operations were compared to operational model results driven by both runoff forecasts; results showed an overall model improvement when the ASO data was integrated into the RFC models. The ASO results were also used for numerous smaller analyses to provide any operational insight possible. The smaller studies checked runoff efficiency, qualitatively back-checked forecasted runoff volumes, and compared ASO estimates of SWE to RFC’s SNOW-17 estimates of SWE. The ASO data enhanced the state of the system knowledge throughout the year and improved the model fit of forecasted operations compared to actual operations. This presentation will show the results of the ASO flights, a comparison of the RFC standard and experimental forecasts, and the reservoir operation model results using both forecasts compared to actual operations.