Alan Haynes

Alan has had a long and very successful career with the National Weather Service (NWS). He started working as a meteorologist in two different Weather Forecast Offices before coming to the California-Nevada River Forecast Center (CNRFC) in 2001. Alan first served as a Hydrometeorological Analysis and Support (HAS) forecaster where he contributed to the CNRFC's reputation for providing the best available precipitation forecasts and produced a foundational verification study in 2008. Alan's leadership potential was evident as he then served as the CNRFC's Service Coordination Hydrologist (SCH) for a number of years before becoming the Hydrologist-in-Charge (HIC) in 2017. Alan's leadership was vital in promoting an open and collaborative environment that drove innovation during his time as HIC. The CNRFC has been a leader in streamflow forecasting products and services, not just in California, but also in the nation, and Alan's leadership is a big reason for this.

Alan also helped expand and strengthen partnerships with many of CNRFC's core partners. The collaborative partnership between the NWS and the State of California is critically important in the collection of hydrologic data, the preparation and distribution of flood warnings, and the continuous support to water management agencies throughout California. As HIC, Alan maintained this strong relationship by successfully overcoming many obstacles that threatened to compromise it.

Alan also strengthened CNRFC's relationships within the water management community. He was involved with the Feather-Yuba Forecast Coordinated Operations program for over a decade, as well as the rapidly expanding Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) program across California. Alan helped ensure the NWS's commitment to these efforts by being an active member of many FIRO steering committees, participating in workshops, and providing decision support to many water management agencies across California. The success of FIRO across California would not be possible without the active participation of the NWS. Through Alan's leadership, he ensured the CNRFC was involved every step of the way from steering committee formation to final viability assessment publication with on-going high-level decision support.

Thank you Alan for all you've done to 1) ensure the CNRFC, in partnership with the California Department of Water Resources, continues to provide high quality vital forecast services to all people of California, 2) strengthen and expand partnerships throughout the water resource community, and 3) provide a collaborative culture within the CNRFC, resulting in innovation benefiting not only California, but also the nation.

Your colleagues recognize and honor you with this award presented on July 17, 2025.