Federal Action Plan for Improving Forecasts of Water Availability

The Federal Action Plan for Improving Forecasts of Water Availability is a national sectoral action plan of the United States of America. Its main objective is to improve the modeling and forecasting capabilities related to water availability and water infrastructure projects.
In response to the Presidential Memorandum, the Departments of Commerce (DOC) and the Departments of the Interior (DOI) have identified an action plan that defines individual and joint agency activities to improve the modeling and forecasting capabilities related to water availability and water infrastructure projects. This plan also references the potential contributions of other water resources agencies and entities that can help improve modeling and forecasting capabilities. DOC and DOI will collaborate with appropriate water management agencies to deliver state-of-the-art high-resolution decadal predictions and assessments of water availability for local to regional scale decision making. These improved modeling and forecasting tools will consider integrated surface water, groundwater, water quality, and water use components. Products will include identification of areas with increased risk of experiencing hydrologic extremes such as drought, flood and degraded water quality. The actions and timelines identified in this action plan are achievable with current agency resources and budgets, including the President’s 2020 Budget. More specifically, it aims to convene water experts and resource managers; implement Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017; Improve and expand use of water forecast information to benefit water management outcomes; and implement requirements of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009.