Northwest Drought Workshop

This event was targeted for USDA agency staff and federal partners, including soil and water conservation districts, watershed councils, tribal nations, university extensions, and other state and federal agencies.  

The objectives of these workshops was to get a better sense of drought and how it’s monitored, as well as the impacts of drought and interconnections in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. They also focused on sharing information and resources to raise awareness about drought and lead to changes in response to dry conditions in the region.

Intended outcomes included: Increasing drought impact reporting; remaining informed on drought status; developing a summary of information shared for adapting to drought conditions; and identifying participant-driven next steps and needs.

In the first session, participants learned about the U.S. Drought Monitor, including how it is made each week; heard from local experts about drought in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho; learned how to report drought impacts; and discussed how drought affects USDA programs

The final two sessions included an east-side focused session with a panel discussion and peer-to-peer learning about drought adaptation practices for lands east of the Cascades (Eastern Oregon, Eastern Washington, and Idaho) and the lands west of the Cascades (Western Oregon, Western Washington). Panelists and peer-to-peer learning included agriculture, forestry, and rangelands.