Improving Lake Superior outflow regulation and quantifying uncertainty

Improving Lake Superior outflow regulation and quantifying uncertainty

A. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) invites proposals for a project to conduct a comprehensive uncertainty analysis for new outflow rating equations associated with a critical water control structure on Lake Superior. The primary focus of this funding opportunity is to enhance the accuracy and reliability of discharge measurements, which are fundamental to the effective management of the Great Lakes system under the Lake Superior Regulation Plan. The base task, along with both options, are all tasks that are related to improving Lake Superior outflow regulation. However, these tasks are not interdependent. The base, option 1 and option 2, are simply a priority given to these tasks if funding should be available. Task 1: Current operational procedures for the structure’s gates include partially open settings that are not accounted for in historical rating equations. To address this, new rating equations are currently under development by a team at the University of Michigan using advanced physical and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling. A key requirement for a successful proposal under this announcement is a well-defined plan for the awardee to work collaboratively and integrate their efforts with the existing University of Michigan modeling team. This partnership will be essential to ensure the resulting uncertainty analysis is robust and directly applicable to the new ratings. The principal outcome of this work will be a quantified uncertainty band for discharge rates corresponding to various gate openings and water levels. The uncertainty analysis should use the publicly available Large Lake Statistical Water Balance Model, so the uncertainty values are consistent with already operational uncertainty models for all other components of the Great Lakes water balance. This task will require a 12 month performance period so the results can be used in an upcoming study. Depending on availability of funding, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may award

Details

• Agency: Engineer Research and Development Center
• Department: Department of Defense
• Opportunity #: W81EWF-26-SOI-0004
• Total Funding: $400,000
• Expected Awards: 2
• Instrument: cooperative_agreement

Eligibility

This opportunity is restricted to non-federal partners of the Great Lakes Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU). Disclosures of current and pending support made in this application may render an applicant ineligible for funding. Prior to award and throughout the period of performance, ERDC may continue to request updated continuing and pending support information, which will be reviewed and may result in discontinuation of funding. Religious organizations are entitled to compete on equal footing with secular organizations for Federal financial assistance as described in E.O. 13798, “Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty.”