The goal of this project is to trigger a watershed-scale shift in water management practices across the Great Lakes region by developing scalable tools that empower a network of up to 1,500 stormwater operators in Great Lake counties and midsized cities to approach their jobs differently. The team will build an open­ source, Al-driven Digital Operator Toolbox, designed to help stormwater operators transition from reactive to proactive stormwater management. The toolbox will equip operators with real-time, predictive tools to help reduce errors that lead to nutrient runoff, sediment loss, and overflow events. 

This project will bring together stormwater operators, county officials, and industry experts from four Great Lakes counties (Oakleaf, MI; Branch, MI; Kosciusko, IN; and Bayfield, WI) and four mid-sized cities (Dearborn, MI; Toledo, OH; Syracuse, NY; and Fort Wayne, IN) to co-develop and pilot the toolbox. The toolbox will leverage existing user knowledge, human-centered design, Al, and local and regional data sources to create an interactive interface that allows operators to query their system, view forecast projections, and model changes in real-time. The purpose is to help operators understand and prepare for problems before storm events happen. This will allow operators to proactively optimize water flow rather than reactively addressing issues. 

In this three-year project, the team will: 

• Use a human-centered design approach and work side-by-side with stormwater operators to identify day-to-day challenges and opportunities for technical support; 

• Conduct needs assessments and install an extensive sensor network to provide real-time data on water levels and flows; 

• Test and refine the toolbox’s features, including maintenance alerts, scenario planning, and real-time analysis capabilities;  

• Host feedback sessions and workshops with the pilot counties and cities to share experiences and further refine the toolbox;  

• Develop training and support modules that will provide a roadmap for other communities to adopt the toolbox and customize it to their needs.  

Ultimately, the team will lay the groundwork for a regional network of operators and stakeholders, fostering wider collaboration and supporting the adoption of this open-source platform across the basin.