In the Media

Congratulations to CIGLR’s Dani Jones, Yi Hong, Lindsay Fitzpatrick, Nayetzhi Hernandez, John McClure and Madeline Melocchi, who received the 2026 NOAA Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) Team Members of the Year Award. The team was recognized for its leadership and technical contributions to developing the next-generation Great Lakes water supply forecast, known as the Net Basin Supply (NBS)-Predictor.

In June 2026, the team successfully transitioned the newly developed NBS-Predictor to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), where it is now used operationally to help guide six-month forecasts of Great Lakes water levels coordinated between the United States and Canada. The transition from research at NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) and CIGLR to operational use at USACE was made possible through close collaboration with operational forecasters from the beginning of the project. The interdisciplinary effort also drew on CIGLR's expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning, Great Lakes regional hydrology, atmospheric science and research engagement.

The team's diligence, creativity and collaborative approach played a major role in the NBS-Predictor's success. The new tool will strengthen USACE's operational water level forecasting capabilities, providing valuable information to support decisions across a Great Lakes region that contributes $22.6 billion to the economy.