14000000038 SOW

• Contract/PO #: 14000000038
• Contractor Name: Applied Weather Associates
• Contract Type: Grant
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Contract Documents

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6. Overall evaluation of the end-to-end application of EPAT. Evaluation of each
component of EPAT is important and required but the integrated final product created
by the combined components must be evaluated. This evaluation requires a
comprehensive understanding of the purpose of EPAT and the use of the EPAT
results. Given the precision and processing of the input(e.g. historic storm rainfall
analyses),precise application of procedures (e.g. inflow moisture vector translation),
adjusted storm rainfall analyses (e.g. identification of maximum rainfall by area size
and duration), and results presentation (e.g. gridded vs basin average rainfall), a
critical evaluation of the overall performance
of EPAT needs to be
provided.
Company Background
Applied Weather Associates, LLC (AWA) is a veteran owned small business located in
Monument, Colorado, established in 1996. AWA specializes in regional, statewide, and site-
specific Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP) studies and precipitation analysis. AWA excels
in developing applications designed to provide solutions using advanced hydrometeorological
analyses. We provide quality high-resolution meteorological analyses and data for use in
hydrologic model calibration and validation, and forensic meteorology. Our team employs
expert analyses, innovative approaches, and state-of-the-science technology to provide clients
with consistently reliable products accepted by both state and federal regulators. AWA operates
with integrity and strives to build and maintain strong relationships with each of our clients,
partners, and community. PMP studies and precipitation analyses have been accepted by state
and national dam regulatory agencies including the Colorado SEO DSB, Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission(FERC), and Natural Resources Conservation Service(NRCS).
AWA is the leader in providing advanced techniques for implementing site-specific and
statewide PMP procedures. AWA has completed a comprehensive review of the Storm
Separation Method(SSM)used in HMRs 55A, 57 and 59 to address orographic influences on
rainfall. The SSM was found to be highly subjective and not reproducible. Historic storm
rainfall data are not used in a consistent nor objective manner. In addition, AWA has performed
extensive evaluations and verification of procedures used in HMR 49. Many of these procedures
were shown to be inadequate and inappropriate for proper PMP determination. None of the
primary procedures used in HMR 49 have been used in subsequent HMRs. Therefore, any PMP
development process which utilizes these procedures and methods will produce inaccurate and
unreliable results.
In order to address these shortcomings,AWA developed the Orographic Transposition Factor
(OTF)to address orographic effects on rainfall in a consistent, objective and reproducible
manner. The OTF was used in the statewide study for Arizona and is being used in Wyoming.
AWA developed the PMP Evaluation Tool to handle the immense amount of data and storm
analyses needed to derive PMP in the Arizona statewide PMP study. State-of-the-science
protocols and GIS applications were efficiently used to produce the GIS based tool. Both the
development of procedures to properly address the meteorological aspects of extreme rainfall in
Arizona and GIS application of those procedures were reviewed by an independent Review
Board consisting of meteorologists and hydrologists as well as by GIS specialists in the Arizona
Department of Water Resources and Flood Control District of Maricopa County. AWA has been
commended by the Arizona DWR for this GIS development effort and the PMP values produced
by the PMP Evaluation Tool are now being used for PMF and other hydrologic applications in
Arizona instead of HMR 49. In addition,the PMP Evaluation Tool is currently being used in the