California Data Exchange Center

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD

Presented To

California Data Exchange Center

Well-informed water management depends on accurate weather and water data. For more than 25 years, the California Data Exchange Center of the Department of Water Resources has met this need in an extraordinarily efficient, reliable, robust, and user-friendly manner. Day in and day out, CDEC collects, stores, and organizes data on precipitation, snow water content, river water level, reservoir pool elevation, and other hydrometeorological conditions throughout the state. CDEC then disseminates these data in a free and open manner via its Website and specialized links. The rapidly escalating traffic on the Website, especially during flood events, reflects its growing importance.

Using data from CDEC, National Weather Service, and DWR, staff issue real-time river and reservoir inflow forecasts; emergency response managers and the public make decisions and act to save lives and property from flooding; Central Valley Project, State Water Project, and other water system operators make decisions about reservoir releases, diversions, and deliveries for water supply and flood management; regulatory agencies make critical water-related decisions about ecosystems and fisheries; and numerous citizens, as well as the media, use its many products to keep informed on weather and water matters.

This award is presented to CDEC and its past and present staff and managers in recognition of the significant contribution of the institution and the individuals to better water management in California. The early supporters and developers had a great understanding of the value of data and interagency cooperation, a vision for making the data available to a rapidly growing audience, and the technical skill to do so. Over the years staff has furthered the vision and continue to innovate and create an invaluable data resource for all involved with or influenced by water management within the State of California. In so doing, CDEC staff, past and present, have exhibited a passionate commitment to providing excellent public service, and in so doing, reflect great credit upon the Department of Water Resources, the State of California, and themselves.

June 20, 2008

2008 California Extreme Precipitation Symposium