• Five projects received funding to improve snow monitoring.
• Total investment exceeds $9.2 million when including cost share.
• Projects will use airborne lidar for better water supply forecasting.
• Efforts aim to enhance climate resilience and water management.

September 24, 2024 –– The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced yesterday that it has awarded $4.6 million to five projects focused on advancing snow monitoring technologies. This funding is part of a larger investment that totals over $9.2 million when combined with additional cost-share funding.

Purpose of the Funding.

The goal of these projects is to improve water supply forecasting and management through innovative snow monitoring techniques. Reclamation’s Senior Advisor for Research and Development, Levi Brekke, expressed enthusiasm about the funding, stating, “Reclamation is thrilled to announce this award to advance five pivotal projects focused on snow monitoring advancement.” He emphasized the commitment to supporting solutions tackling water challenges and promoting sustainable community practices.

Project Details.

The selected projects will utilize airborne LIDAR technology to conduct snow surveys. This technology helps gather data that can enhance water supply forecasting and inform water management decisions. Each project includes plans for acquiring LIDAR flights, demonstrating how to use the data effectively, and developing methods to maximize the utility of the snow survey information.

Here are the projects that received funding:

• Arizona State University: Fusing Airborne and CubeSat Methods for Snow Estimation and Supply Forecasting into Salt River Project Reservoirs.

  • Reclamation Funding: $974,265
  • Total Project Cost: $1,274,265

• Friant Water Authority: Snow Water Supply Forecasting in the Upper San Joaquin River Watershed.

  • Reclamation Funding: $702,169
  • Total Project Cost: $3,556,798

• Oregon State University: Fusing LIDAR and In-Situ Community Measurements to Improve Estimates of Snowpack.

  • Reclamation Funding: $946,203
  • Total Project Cost: $1,198,187

• Oregon State University: The utility of aerial LiDAR snow surveys to improve water supply forecasts across the western United States: comparing the relative importance of current snow conditions and future weather.

  • Reclamation Funding: $971,862
  • Total Project Cost: $1,230,504

• Utah Division of Water Resources: Wings Over Weber.

  • Reclamation Funding: $975,844
  • Total Project Cost: $1,951,689

Reclamation’s Snow Water Supply Forecast Program is focused on enhancing snow monitoring and advancing new technologies to improve water supply forecasts. These efforts are crucial for building resilience against climate change and enabling better water management practices.  To learn more and read full project descriptions, visit the program website.

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