ASCE Seattle Section Joint Event with Water Resources April 16th, 2014 

Major storms cause huge flood risk management challenges. The complexities and uncertainties of NW weather and hydrology are managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in Seattle. The Corps provides flood risk management by operating dams and coordinating emergency management in western Washington. You'll learn about the Corps flood fighting strategy and see how their water managers adapt under rapidly changing conditions.

You'll understand the singular cause of all major floods in the NW.

What a surprise - it's rain - but only rain with a specific character and profile. And what about snowmelt, does it matter?

Recent research reveals all major floods, in western Washington, are produced by atmospheric rivers, but what are these unique weather features?

Join us and discover the secrets and spotlight the myths of NW flooding and flood risk management utilizing large dams. 

Larry Schick is a former on air broadcast meteorologist and award winning environmental, science, and outdoor reporter.  Larry was hired by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District in 2003 and works in Water Management as a meteorologist and dam regulator. He was named USACE Seattle District "Scientist of the Year" in 2009.  He initiated and co-authored a peer-reviewed research paper:  "Flooding in Western Washington: The Connection to Atmospheric Rivers".  The paper was published in the December of 2011 issue of the Journal of Hydrometeorology.

Larry received a B.S. degree in Earth Science/ Weather Analysis & Forecasting from Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff in 1975.  He began his career as a cartographer, and then worked for five years as an on air broadcast meteorologist for KSBW TV in Monterey, California.  He moved to Seattle in 1983 to continue his career as a broadcast meteorologist for KING TV and others from 1983-2003.