Laserfiche WebLink
<br />4. Enhanced Snowpack Assessment - Phase III (SNODAS link to runoff streamflow models) <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Beneficiary/Grantee/Contractor: USBR, Various <br />Amount of Request: $70,000 <br /> <br />Ranking: <br /> <br />High <br /> <br />Product Produced: Funds will be to develop the Snow Data Assimilation System, which will provide <br />a model for analysis of snowpack for water planning and flooding impact. <br /> <br />The Snow Data Assimilation System (SNODAS) uses a sophisticated energy and mass balance model to <br />generate various snowpack variables at I km resolution. Using previous support from the State of <br />Colorado, a system was developed to provide a grid of SNODAS data for the state online. The primary <br />SNODAS output of interest is snow water equivalent (SWE), but other variables such as snow depth, <br />snowpack temperature, sublimation, SWE change, and snowmelt are also available. The output is <br />averaged by CWCB's basins of interest. <br /> <br />The current proposal extends the aforementioned capability to assess only the state of the snowpack. <br />Specifically, we propose to input SNODAS snow meltwater into a hydrologic model, which can run off <br />and route the water into the stream network. This will produce hydro graphs at any stream location that <br />are more accurate than in the past, since they reflect the most accurate meltwater contribution. This is <br />particularly important for water management during the spring melt season. Moreover, by coupling <br />such a system to numerical weather prediction models,forecast hydrographs may be produced. <br /> <br />Water Planning Relationship: SNODAS plays an integral part in water planning and <br />management. As a result of SNODAS, there is more efficient water management because of better <br />snowpack snow water equivalent, melt, runoff and streamflow estimates; more accurate snowpack water <br />estimates; and improved, spatially continuous precipitation estimates that will be made available in real <br />time for flood prediction and warning. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Recommendation: Staff gives a high recommendation for funding of this project because of the <br />importance to water supply protection, flood protection and water resource managers. <br /> <br />5. Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network (CoCoRhaS) <br /> <br />Beneficiary/Grantee/Contractor: Colorado State University, Colorado Climate Center, Various <br />Amount of Request: $10,000 Ranking: Medium <br /> <br />Product Produced: Funding will be used to continue the efforts of the Community Collaborative <br />Rain, Hail, and Snow Network (CoCoRhaS). This project began in Larimer County in 1998 and is <br />currently a statewide volunteer network. Funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) has <br />allowed Colorado to benefit from a creative science education program that encourages citizen <br />participation in monitoring precipitation and its impacts on our state. The funds will be running out early <br />in 2006. Funds will be needed to help sustain the program while a new proposal is submitted to NSF in <br />2006. The target is to place special emphasis on recruiting more volunteers and working closely with <br />schools in agricultural and mountainous areas of Colorado to better monitor water supplies, runoff, soil <br />moisture and emerging or potential drought and flood conditions. <br /> <br />The goals for 2006 will be to improve the website so that new volunteers can sign up and begin <br />participation with less manual intervention. For example, the plan is to develop interactive on-line <br />training and testing to improve the quality and timeliness of data being reported by citizen volunteers. <br />Data mapping capabilities will be developed that will show precipitation departures from average for <br /> <br />17 <br />