Town Hall: Interagency Long-term Research and Monitoring Program Plan on Hydroclimatological Changes in the Major Western US River Basins
NOAA, in partnership with multiple agencies, is developing a joint research and monitoring program to improve the understanding of the hydroclimatological changes in the major river basins of the Western United States. The program will consider the impacts of rising temperatures, changes to snowpack, hydrologic extremes, changes in timing and quantity of streamflow, and other factors as appropriate. Program activities will be discussed to include observations, modeling (coupled earth system, hydrologic), monitoring, prediction/projection, future R&D and projected operational capabilities. Sources of uncertainty in the outlook, and impacts of uncertainty on decisions, will be discussed. Goals will include impacts on water resource management, as well as ecosystems, aquatic biology and food and energy production.
The town hall will discuss the nascent plan and agency partnerships, as well as potential synergies with existing flooding, drought, and wildfire programs in the West. The activities of the partner agencies will be outlined. While the plan is already drafted, we anticipate it will be an evolving effort tied to ongoing studies of the changing hydroclimatology of the western U.S., so look forward to broader discussion.
Further Information Forthcoming