CIROH, a partnership between NOAA and The University of Alabama, is a national consortium committed to advancing water prediction – the forecasting of streamflow entering water systems, extreme events such as floods and droughts, and water quality – and building community resilience to water-related challenges. CIROH scientists, from 28 different institutions—academic, government, and private, work to improve the understanding of hydrologic processes, operational hydrologic forecasting techniques and workflows, community water modeling, translation of forecasts to actionable products, and use of water predictions in decision making.



Goals

Research Leader
Advance research and leadership in support of NOAA’s Office of Water Prediction mission to: “collaboratively research, develop and deliver state-of-the science national hydrologic analyses, forecast information, data, guidance, and equitable decision-support services to inform essential emergency management and water resources decisions across all time scales;”

Knowledge Mobilizer
Reinforce the NWS National Water Center’s mission to “promote collaboration across the scientific community, serving as both a catalyst to accelerate the transition of research into operations and a center of excellence for water resources science, information, and prediction services;” and

Community Catalyst
Strengthen communities of practice to synthesize a new generation of interdisciplinary and innovative research products, education, and outreach supporting NOAA’s vision of a water- and weather-ready nation.
CIROH IN THE NEWS

WaterTown, USA: CIROH’s Summer of Science Shapes the Future of Water
June 30, 2025
By: Ryan Ruiz
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Welcome to Watertown, USA, future leaders of hydrology. Tuscaloosa, a town synonymous with SEC football, becomes the epicenter of America’s next-generation water workforce development each summer.

DevCon 2025 Highlights CIROH’s National Role in Transforming Water Prediction
June 30, 2025
By: Ryan Ruiz
BURLINGTON, Vt. – More than 225 researchers, students and practitioners gathered at the University of Vermont for the 2025 CIROH Developers Conference (DevCon), underscoring CIROH’s role as a national hub for next-generation water prediction and decision support.

Empowering the Next Generation: CIROH Awards Spotlight Innovation and Real-World Impact
June 30, 2025
By: Ryan Ruiz
BURLINGTON, Vt. – At the 2025 CIROH Developers Conference (DevCon), held at the University of Vermont, CIROH introduced two new awards designed to celebrate rising talent and practical innovation in water research: the CIROH Student Developer Award and the CIROH Early Career Paper Award.
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