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Orange County Water District uses Firo and a digital twin to balance water supply, flood control and riparian habitat
Summary
Orange County Water District described forecast‑informed reservoir operations (Firo) at Prado Dam, a new environmental digital twin that uses satellite, LIDAR and historic data to track vegetation and Least Bell's vireo habitat, and a minor‑deviation operational elevation increase that produced measurable supply gains this year.
CORONA, Calif. — Orange County Water District presented its use of forecast‑informed reservoir operations (Firo) and an environmental “digital twin” to the Environmental Flows Work Group on Oct. 5, saying the approaches can increase water capture from storm events while providing data to show effects on riparian habitat behind Prado Dam.
Lisa Haney, executive director for planning and natural resources at Orange County Water District, described Prado’s operations and the basin’s natural riparian forest, which supports the endangered Least Bell’s vireo and is the largest riparian stand in Southern California. Haney said the district has a long partnership with Scripps/CW3E on AI‑enhanced weather forecasting for Firo and that the technology has produced higher‑confidence forecasts that allow more aggressive capture of storm inflows for groundwater recharge.
Haney gave concrete examples…
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