Reclamation seeks to work with the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Research Applications Laboratory (RAL), located within the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, because of RAL’s capabilities in scoping, developing, and conducting climate and water-related research and
development that complements the missions of Reclamation and other federal, state, and local agencies who are seeking to develop actionable science and tools for practitioners in the areas of climate and water sciences.
The work conducted under this Agreement will generally consist of specific projects that support effective water management by advancing scientific capabilities related to:
• atmospheric and climate sciences and their impact on the hydrologic cycle relative to water supply and water use in the Western U. S. • physical, biological and social systems that influence the hydrologic cycle and associated water supplies and use in the Western U. S. • characterizing and communicating scientific uncertainty to better frame and inform water management decisions.
Such projects will normally be designed to address needs consistent with well-established needs in the area of water resources management, such as those identified in the following references, and determined by Reclamation to be high priority.