Opportunities and challenges of managing atmospheric rivers

Insights from Sonoma Water & HydroForecast
The HydroForecast Team
Jul 16, 2025
Table of contents

Join us for an engaging webinar exploring how HydroForecast is helping customers like Sonoma Water navigate the challenges of high-flow events like atmospheric rivers. These powerful “rivers in the sky” deliver both essential water supply and significant flood risks across the globe.

You’ll hear from Sonoma Water’s team about their innovative use of tools to predict and manage atmospheric rivers, recent atmospheric river events, and why these weather systems are so critical for managing water resources and infrastructure in the region. We’ll discuss the unique forecasting challenges these events pose, and share how innovative tools like HydroForecast are supporting better decision-making when it matters most.

What you’ll get out of it:

  • Insight into the increasing impact of atmospheric rivers on water supply and flood management
  • An understanding of the challenges of forecasting atmospheric rivers and the latest solutions
  • Real-world case studies  of how advanced tools are being used to improve preparedness and resilience
  • An open Q&A session with experts from HydroForecast and Sonoma Water

Whether you're managing water operations, water policy decisions, or just want to learn more about the future of water management, this webinar will offer valuable perspectives and practical takeaways.

Join us Wednesday, July 16 at 10am PST/1pm EST. Can't make the live event? Register anyway, and we'll send you the recording.

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Meet the speakers

HydroForecast by Upstream Tech is an award-winning streamflow forecast powered by the latest advancements in AI technology. HydroForecast equips hydropower operators with real-time forecasts and actionable data, enabling water resource management while driving efficiency, revenue, and safety.

Hunter Johnson is a HydroForecast Customer Success Manager, bringing 5+ years of experience in hydrology and water resource engineering across academia and industry. His experience spans flood modeling, groundwater regulatory compliance, and reservoir inflow forecasting. He manages the adoption of HydroForecast to new and existing customers worldwide, supporting organizations to optimize dam and hydropower operations while protecting critical infrastructure and communities.

Sonoma Water

Sonoma Water is a wholesale water supplier serving over 600,000 residents in Sonoma and Marin counties, managing the Russian River water system and providing essential flood protection, wastewater treatment, and environmental services. Sonoma Water has experience in water management that provides many important learnings for the industry, especially in the context of atmospheric rivers. They work collaboratively with federal agencies, local communities, and universities on climate science research and hydrologic modeling to apply innovative approaches to address the challenges posed by extreme weather.

Nathan Baskett began working for Sonoma Water in 2007 after graduating from San Francisco State University where he earned his Bachelors in Geography.  Throughout his tenure at Sonoma Water, Nathan has worked in the Water Resources & Planning group as a GIS Technician, Junior Engineer, and Hydrogeologist.  Some of Nathan’s duties include: water supply planning, establishing and maintaining groundwater and surface monitoring networks, flood plain modeling, and assisting the development of Groundwater Sustainability Plans for three groundwater basins.  Nathan also assists with the management of Sonoma’s OneRain Alert system, which consists of 30 rainfall and streamflow gauges in areas with an enhanced risk of flooding and debris flows due to recent wildfire activity.