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Airborne Snow Observatory pilot presented: preliminary SWE maps, data-sharing and cost discussed
Summary
Division of Water Resources staff presented the Airborne Snow Observatory pilot for the upper basin: snow-free and snow-on flights completed, preliminary SWE products show small differences versus SNOTEL samples, and staff said the pilot costs about $1.8 million over three years; data-sharing arrangements for funding partners were discussed.
The council received a technical briefing on an Airborne Snow Observatory (ASO) pilot covering roughly half of the river basin.
Richard Salas, water resources engineer with the Division of Water Resources, described how ASO combines lidar and imaging spectrometer flights to measure snow depth and derive snow-water-equivalent (SWE). "We have received some preliminary results from the survey processing," Salas said, adding that forecast results were under correction and validation and expected within one to two weeks.
Salas said the pilot covers about 870 square miles in the upper headwaters down toward Emerald Reservoir and that the program aims to produce basin-wide seasonal snowpack maps to improve runoff forecasting. He noted that the snow-free flight was completed on Sept. 25 and the first aerial surveys were conducted March 26 and April 13; preliminary comparisons with SNOTEL showed only a few centimeters of difference in depth.
On cost and data ownership, Salas said the project was funded in part by a Bureau of Reclamation grant that covered approximately half of the pilot cost. "This is an expensive project," he said, "$1,800,000 over 3 years to fly 2 flights." He added that ASO (the vendor) technically holds the raw data, but the company updated its data-sharing policy and the data will be available to funding partners and public entities; staff will follow up with details about public access and gauge integration.
Salas said the pilot will include annual reporting and a final 2027 report to synthesize lessons learned and recommendations for whether to expand ASO coverage or pursue other funding sources.
Council members asked how ASO outputs would be compared with local gauge records and how the tool might inform operations; staff offered to coordinate a follow-up meeting with technical partners and share preliminary products when they are released.
The council did not take any formal action on the pilot during the meeting.
