Growing demand for water supply coupled with increasingly frequent drought and flood risk requires optimal management of the Nation's available water resources. Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations ( FIRO) is a research-and-operations partnership strategy that capitalizes on scientific improvements in weather and hydrologic forecasting to improve reservoir management. The FIRO research program now encompasses four pilot sites at varying stages of assessment, and the emerging development of a FIRO Screening Process to assess suitability of the full USACE portfolio of dams.

The FIRO research program is in response to an update to the US Army Corps of Engineers Water Control Management Engineer Regulation (ER 1110-2-240) that allows for forecasted conditions to be used in planning water management operations. At FIRO sites, collaborative teams of stakeholders and researchers rigorously assess the possibility of using atmospheric and hydrologic forecasts in making release decisions. Where viable, FIRO improves water supply availability, flood risk management, ecosystem benefits and other project purposes.

FIRO Factsheet
Human Systems of FIRO Study - Two Pager