Northwest River Forecast Center Special Projects


FLDWAV The FLDWAV program is a generalized unsteady-flow open channel simulation model. This model has a wide range of applications, including effects of backwater conditions, levees, tidal off-channel storage, dams, bridges, wind shear effects, sinuous channel structure, and sub and super critical flows.

The NWRFC has completed implementation of this model on the Lower Columbia, Coquille at Coquille, and Umpqua at Reedsports. Work has begun in the area of the lower Snohomish River, Lower Skagit River, and for backwater conditions along the Kootenai River near Bonner's Ferry.

NWSRFS NWSRFS will provide continuous year-round streamflow forecast and long-range probabilistic streamflow predictions. The conversion to NWSRFS was completed in 2003 and now we have begun the process of re-calibration. The effort has two focus areas, one in Northwest Washington and other in Central Idaho. Bonneville Power Administration is helping in this activity. This will be an ongoing process to improve forecasting efforts.

ESP Extended Streamflow Predictions forecasts have been implemented for the entire area of the Northwest River Forecast Center. Probabilistic predictions, based on conditions of soil moisture, snow packs conditions, and historical precipitation and temperature patterns, are being produced on a weekly basis. Efforts are under way to incorporate long lead forecasts from the Climate Prediction Center of NOAA. The adjusted ESP forecasts should be available for the 2008 water year period.

ASWS The NWRFC is implementing an advanced statistical water supply forecast system. This system consists of many components designed to improve the regressional statistical water supply forecasts. We have improved on data collection, estimation, quality control, and statistical analysis. Updates to the equations are planned to utilize the most recent streamflow extremes. There are 30 forecast locations using these new techniques in WY 2007. Additional forecast points will be added until current regressional water supply sites have been upgraded.

PRISM Canadian Maps Monthly 1971-2000 normal precipitation and temperature maps are being developed for the Columbia River system in Canada. Oregon State University has been developing methods to generate monthly normal precipitation and temperature maps for the United States. The NWRFC has contracted this group to extend these techniques into Canada. These data support calibrations, water balance studies, data quality control, and other water management data analysis procedures.

CHPS The National Weather Service needs to modernize its river forecasting operations so it can accommodate advances in hydrologic science from the public and private research community. The Community Hydrologic Prediction System (CHPS) is under way to take advantage of Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) to speed development and research to operations process. The NWRFC is a partner in a demonstration project which emphasizes modular and configurable set of components and services used in a distributed operational environment. By April, this system will be implemented in the Santiam River Basin. It will consider issues of snow, regulation, and highly distributed operational environment. Operations in this basin are joint activities between NWS and COE.

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US Dept of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service Northwest River Forecast Center (NWRFC) 5241 NE 122nd Avenue Portland, Oregon 97230-1089 Telephone: 503-326-7401 Last Modified: March 21, 2007

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