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Drought Early Warning Activities

Page Summary

Each regional drought early warning system (DEWS) focuses on improving early warning capacity for and resilience to drought in that region, including examining the role of extreme weather events and climate variability in drought.

Regional DEWS Coordination

NIDIS has developed regional drought early warning systems (DEWS) throughout the United States, where local networks of researchers, resource managers, policymakers, the private sector, academics, and other stakeholders share information and actions to help their communities cope with drought.

A DEWS coordinates this network of key regional partners so that decision makers and citizens can systematically approach drought monitoring and forecasting integration when planning and preparing for drought. Regional DEWS encourage innovation by integrating new, locally relevant drought information, and supporting the introduction and testing of technologies that detect and communicate drought risks and warnings.

Regional DEWS activities focus on five key areas for drought early warning (DEWS components): observation and monitoring, prediction and forecasting, planning and preparedness, communication and outreach, and interdisciplinary research and applications.

Circles representing each of the 5 key components of a drought early warning system

Drought Early Warning Activities

The table below shows ongoing activities related to drought early warning across the United States. Each activity falls into one or more of the five key areas of drought early warning systems (DEWS components): observation and monitoring, planning and preparedness, prediction and forecasting, communication and outreach, and interdisciplinary research and applications.

DEWS Components Legend
Observation & Monitoring
 
Planning & Preparedness
 
Prediction & Forecasting
 
Communication & Outreach
 
Research & Applications

Select filters to browse DEWS Activities below

Description

The goal of this project was to build technical capacity for conducting climate vulnerability assessments focused on the tribal water resources of four reservations—Rosebud, Pine Ridge,…

Scope
State
Key Partners
Great Plains Tribal Water Alliance, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Pine Ridge Sioux Tribe, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe
Project Timeline
Jan
2016
Dec
2017
DEWS Components
Description

The purpose of the Hennepin West Mesonet is to provide emergency managers and incident commanders in east-central Minnesota with environmental information in real-time to support their critical…

Scope
Local
Key Partners
Hennepin County Emergency Management, Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, Metro Transit, Minneapolis Office of Emergency Management
Project Timeline
Ongoing
DEWS Components
Description

The State Water Plan Task Force (SWPTF) was created in 1980 to guide policy decisions regarding the adequacy of programs to deal with an increasing number of water issues and to prepare a State…

Scope
State
Key Partners
Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois State Water Survey, Illinois State Geological Survey
Project Timeline
Ongoing
DEWS Components
Description

Since 2006 the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has funded the Illinois State Water Survey and Illinois State Geological Survey to lead regional and state water supply planning…

Scope
State
Key Partners
Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois State Water Survey, Illinois State Geological Survey
Project Timeline
Ongoing
DEWS Components
Description

The purpose of this plan is to provide the State of Indiana with an effective and systematic plan to assess and manage the state’s water resources during a water shortage or potential water…

Scope
State
Key Partners
Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana Department of Environmental Management
Project Timeline
Ongoing
DEWS Components