Panama – Panama Canal River Forecasting System

Riverside Technology, inc. (RTi) worked with the Panama Canal Authority (PCA) to transfer the National Weather Service River Forecast System (NWSRFS) technology to PCA to help forecast inflows and operations in the Panama Canal. Most of the Panama Canal transit area consists of Gatun Lake, a man-made reservoir. Additional water supply for canal operations is stored upstream in Madden Lake, fed by the Chagres River. PCA operates Gatun and Madden Lakes to maintain proper water levels for ships transiting the canal, and to provide municipal water supply and hydropower generation. Additionally, water elevations in the lakes must be maintained below maximum levels to avoid flooding lock operations in Lake Gatun, and to preserve flood control storage in Madden Lake.

Panama Canal Forecast System Displays

RTi implemented NWSRFS and trained PCA engineers in forecast operations, to provide more timely information about current and future reservoir inflows. With this information, the forecasters can make better decisions regarding reservoir operations and can conserve water during the six-month dry season. RTi worked with PCA personnel in collecting and analyzing precipitation, streamflow, evaporation, and reservoir operation data to help calibrate the hydrologic and hydraulic models within NWSRFS. As a result of some of RTi's analyses of the precipitation network, PCA decided to install additional gages in upper portions of the canal watershed. During this project, RTi developed a new multi-reservoir simulation model to account for the joint operation of Gatun and Madden Lakes. RTi incorporated this model into NWSRFS and the model is now a part of the official program.

Throughout the project, RTi worked closely with PCA engineers and provided training to them on each phase of the work. Since the final delivery of the system in October 1998, RTi has continued to work with PCA providing advanced training, reservoir operations analysis in support of canal expansion, and an upgrade of the system to the LINUX operating system.

2290 East Prospect Road, Suite 1, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525
phone: (970) 484–7573  fax: (970) 484–7593 www.riverside.com