Abstract
<jats:p>Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) pilots demonstrate the potential to use modern forecasting methods to manage water more effectively. Growing demand for water, coupled with rising incidence of both drought and flood conditions, creates urgency for adapting reservoir operations. The FIRO Screening Process is a US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) effort to gauge readiness for and provide a point of entry to the FIRO approach. Screening identifies USACE reservoirs that might be candidates for FIRO implementation. This report offers an overview of Stage A of the FIRO Screening Process, which eliminates sites with prohibitive barriers to FIRO (e.g., no controlled outlet, no water control plan, poor forecast skill). Stages B and C entail more in-depth assessments of potential bene-fits and challenges of implementing FIRO at a site. This report provides an overview of the screening approach, the development of Stage A, and results from screening the national portfolio of USACE reservoirs. Stage A eliminated 184 reservoirs (31 percent) of the national portfolio from further consideration for FIRO. The 409 sites (69 percent) of the national portfolio that passed Stage A are eligible for further screening of FIRO suitability in Stage B.</jats:p>