WWA researchers Kristen Averyt and Tim Bardsley worked with the NOAA Colorado Basin River Forecast Center (CBRFC) to better understand how water managers interpret and use streamflow forecast information through a series of interactive workshops. Workshops were held in January 2011 at the AMS Meeting in Seattle, WA in conjunction with a short course on water resources and in June 2011 in Salt Lake City. During these workshops the researchers introduced a gaming exercise that involved forecasted flows and reservoir schedules. These engagements have improved managers’ understanding of available products and user driven improvements to CBRFC web based tools. In addition, scenario-based exercises indicate that most participants tend to use the median forecasts rather than worst-case scenario predicted at the tails of forecast ranges, and many use a wait-and-see approach to planning.  These efforts are feeding into continued adjustment of decision support forecasts based on improved understanding of decision-making constraints and processes.