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<br />002737 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />and water supply forecasting capabilities of the National <br />Weather Service (NWS) for the Colorado River Basin. This <br />provides for improved river management and reduces the threat <br />to public safety and damage to property and natural resources <br />along the Colorado River. This comprehensive program, <br />referred to as the Colorado River Flood Warning system, was <br />developed using state-of-the-science hydrologic models and <br />real-time hydrometeorological data. Appropriations totalling <br />$2.7 million were included in the NWS budgets in Fiscal Years <br />1984 and 1985 to procure and install the necessary real-time <br />hydrometeorological data network and computer processing and <br />data management system. <br /> <br />The System is an integral federal component of a <br />cooperative water informational base for the Colorado River <br />Basin involving participation and funding by local, regional, <br />state, and federal agencies which provides other required <br />hydrometeorological data to the NWS in exchange for its water <br />resources information and forecast services. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />For the first two years following the system <br />installation, 1986 and 1987, $650,000 were appropriated each <br />year to operate and maintain the established Colorado River <br />Flood Warning System. The System consists of 83 remote <br />stations in the Colorado River Basin which transmit, via <br />satellite, real-time hydrometeorological data every six <br />hours, or more frequently during storm events. The improved <br />flood and water supply forecasting capability has reduced the <br />potential threat of loss of human life, property, and natural <br />resources along the Colorado River and increased the <br />opportunity for water conservation and hydroelectric power <br />generation through improved river management. <br /> <br />Funds to sustain the operation and maintenance of the <br />NWS's Colorado River Flood Warning System were not included <br />in the Fiscal Year 1988 federal budget, requiring the NWS to <br />use contingency funds to maintain this extremely important <br />system. While the president's Budget for 1989 contained no <br />funds for the operation and maintenance of the System, <br />Congress appropriated $300,000, representing less than one- <br />half of the funds needed for full system operation and the <br />required maintenance. The NWS is keeping the system <br />operational in 1989 but has had to make major reductions in <br />system maintenance which could have long term impacts on the <br />System's capability in the future. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />With the lack of specific funding in the president's <br />proposed budget for 1990, the NWS will be forced to consider <br />terminating the operation of the System in 1990. With the <br />Colorado River reservoir system likely to remain in a full or <br /> <br />III-8 <br />