Beyond the Rule Curve: How Reservoir Operations Modeling Is Transforming Water Management

As water management challenges continue to grow in complexity, reservoir operators are increasingly looking beyond traditional rule curves to make more informed decisions. In this recent article published by the National Hydropower Association's Powerhouse platform, Kleinschmidt Principal Consultant Chris Goodell explores how reservoir operations modeling is helping organizations evaluate operational strategies, balance competing objectives, and prepare for uncertain future conditions.

The Modeling Breakthrough Changing Emergency Preparedness

Hydropower emergency planning requires more than understanding a single “worst-case” scenario. In a recent episode of the Energy Central Podcast, Chris Goodell joined Priya Jain and Eric Toth of East Bay Municipal Utility District to discuss how probabilistic dam-breach inundation mapping is helping utilities better understand uncertainty and improve emergency preparedness.

From Field to Framework: Rethinking Precision with Modern GNSS Surveying Technologies

This thought leadership piece explores how modern GNSS surveying technologies—specifically RTK, RTN, and RTX—are reshaping data collection for environmental and water resource projects, while emphasizing that precision depends as much on planning and expertise as it does on technology.

Lock No. 14 – Heidelberg Hydroelectric Project

Transforming a century-old lock into a modern energy asset, the Heidelberg Hydroelectric Project showcases how innovation and preservation can work together. By maximizing efficiency within existing infrastructure, the project delivers increased power generation with minimal environmental impact—demonstrating a smarter path forward for sustainable hydropower.

Kleinschmidt Featured in NHA’s POWERHOUSE Magazine on Advancing Fish Passage Modeling

The article highlights Emergent™, Kleinschmidt’s agent-based modeling framework that simulates how individual fish respond to hydraulic conditions, environmental cues, and group behavior as they move through rivers and fish passage systems. By representing fish as active decision-makers rather than passive particles, the approach provides deeper insight into passage performance and biological outcomes.

Kleinschmidt Featured in ENR Infrastructure Construction Today

The feature highlights how hydropower supports resilient infrastructure by providing reliable renewable energy while contributing to water management, grid stability, and long-term system reliability. The article also underscores the growing importance of modernizing existing hydropower assets to meet today’s safety, environmental, and operational challenges.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Engineers: Robert Schomp Featured on DiscoverE’s Chat with Change Makers

We’re proud to share that Robert Schomp, one of our water resources engineers, was recently featured on Chat with Change Makers, a student-led series produced by DiscoverE that highlights careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Clearing the Way for Clean Energy: Cooling Water Strategies for Advanced Reactors

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are reshaping the future of nuclear power—offering lower costs, faster deployment, and scalable, carbon-free energy. But success starts with one critical element: a compliant, environmentally sound cooling-water strategy.

Built on Safety. Defined by Precision. Rope Access in Action.

Kleinschmidt’s rope access program enables engineers and technicians to safely reach the most challenging areas of dams and water infrastructure—where traditional access methods simply aren’t practical. Certified through SPRAT and IRATA, our rope access professionals perform detailed inspections, measurements, and condition assessments on penstocks, spillways, gates, and surge towers, all while minimizing disruption to operations