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1 1 (August 14, 2017)

handle is hein.crs/govcfzr0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 01; F ie sea.rch & August 14, 2017 Drought Response and Preparedness: Policy and Legislation In recent years, large areas of the United States have been subject to drought (see Figure 1). Congress and other policymakers are confronted with how to monitor and prepare for droughts and reduce their economic and environmental consequences. At issue in selecting drought- related actions and determining responsibilities is who bears the costs of drought impacts, disaster response, and long-term adjustments to changes in water conditions and temperatures. Drought response and preparedness are shaped by state and local actions, federal drought assistance, and federal dam operations, among other factors. Figure I. Drought in the United States, 2000-2017 (percentage of lower 48 states with abnormally dry or drought conditions) ....................... 2? 2O 2±S 2 217 Source: U.S. Drought Monitor. Stthz ,nd bucad Drouh Prpa, V nw The federal government generally defers to state primacy in surface and groundwater allocation. States and local entities also typically lead efforts to prepare for drought. As of mid- 2017, all but two states had drought plans or were developing such plans. Although most plans center on reacting to drought conditions, 13 state plans incorporate efforts to reduce drought vulnerabilities. Some states and communities have invested in reducing water demand and expanding drought-resilient supplies (e.g., reuse/recycling of wastewater, desalination, and groundwater recharge and management). California, Idaho, and Arizona are among the states that have facilitated water banks and markets for water transfers. Community-level drought plans are less widespread than state plans, except in states that require or support local drought planning, such as Texas. Research shows that, although most U.S. cities are relatively drought resilient, some are vulnerable because of factors such as low water storage per capita, water sources that are shared with other cities or large users, or arid locations. Among cities regularly identified as being at risk of water supply challenges are Atlanta, GA; El Paso, TX; Lincoln, NE; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; San Antonio, TX; and Salt Lake City, UT. Some of these cities are leaders in new water supply development and demand management. Fedea §' )rought Asstaunic Coordination of federal drought research and monitoring occurs largely through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) program, authorized in 2006 (P.L. 109-430) and 2016 (P.L. 113-86). Pursuant to congressional direction, NIDIS integrates drought research and builds forecasting and assessment capacity to help provide an early warning system for drought. NIDIS is authorized to receive appropriations through FY2018. Most federal financial aid for drought assists agriculture and rural water supplies. Under the 2014 farm bill (P.L. 113-79), nearly all segments of the farm sector are covered by either federal crop insurance or a disaster program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). (See CRS Report RS21212, Agricultural Disaster Assistance.) Both of these programs can assist farmers during a drought. For example, Livestock Forage Program payments to producers are triggered by a county's drought- intensity level, as published in the U.S. Drought Monitor, a weekly map of drought conditions created by multiple entities and led by NOAA through NIDIS. Other USDA conservation programs (discussed in CRS Report R40763, Agricultural Conservation: A Guide to Programs) also may assist with drought preparedness. Federal authorities for emergency community water supplies exist but are limited in scope and funding. Some federal agencies have programs to promote water efficiency, which may reduce demand for water during droughts. These include water-efficient product labeling by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and water- efficiency grants for certain nonfederal entities by the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation). However, state and local entities retain most of the authority and resources for influencing municipal and industrial (M&I) water use. Timely information, such as the U.S. Drought Monitor, relies on federal investment in remote observations (e.g., satellites), surface observations and monitoring (e.g., streamgages, soil moisture and precipitation measurements), complex models, and dissemination and research through NIDIS. Improved monitoring technologies and better modeling have resulted in a better understanding of drought frequency, intensity, and duration due to climate and weather conditions, but more precise long-term assessments remain difficult to formulate. Reservoirs and dams operated by Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) store water for irrigation and for M&I uses, among other purposes. The Water Supply Act of 1958 (72 Stat. 320; 43 U.S.C. §390b) states .O 'T gognpo 'pmpmm- , goo g 'S a X

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