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1 1 (June 4, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/govedoh0001 and id is 1 raw text is: S I Sesesrch $grvice doirniriu th~ I kIatv~ drk4t~ ski ~ 1914 9 Updated June 4, 2021 Drought Response and Preparedness: Policy and Legislation In recent years, large areas of the United States have been subject to drought. In additionto estimates of average annuallos ses fromdrought of $9 billion for agriculture, the effects have included dwindling water supplies for rural households and water userestrictions in urbanareas. As of mid-2021, the western United States is in the midst ofits most severe droughts ince the early 2000s (see Figure 1), with some areas facing their driest years on record. Some experts have raisedconcerns about the availability of water supplies andthe drought's impacts onforests andother flora and fauna. Congress and otherpolicymakers are confronted with how to prepare for and monitor droughts, how to mitigate drought-related consequences, and who should bear responsibility for these actions. Historically, drought response andpreparedness have been shaped by state and local actions, federal drought assis tance, and federal damoperations, among other factors. Figure 1. Drought in I 7 Western States Share of continental U.S. 100% 'une I 2021 80% 60% 40% Orouglf Categories ABNORMALLY MODERAT Q XPIN DRY 01UH10MM DOUH S ource: U.S. Drought M on itor, https://d roughtmon itor.u n I.ed u/ DmData/TimeSenies.aspx. State and Local Drought Preparedness The federalgovernment generally defers to state primacy in s urface and groundwater allocation. States and local entitis als o typically lead efforts to prepare for drought. Most s tates have drought plans in s ome form, and s ome of these plans incorporate efforts to reduce drought vulnerabilities. Some s tates and communities have invested in reducing water demand and expanding drought -resilient supplies (e.g., was tewater reuse/recycling, desalination, and groundwater recharge and management) or have facilitated water banks and markets for water transfers. Community - level drought plans are less widespread than state plans', except in states thatrequire or support this planning. Federal Drought A ssistance Authorities Coordination of federal droughtresearch and monitoring occurs largely through the National Oceanic and A tmos pheric A dminis tration's (NOA A's) National Integrated Drought Information Sy stem(NIDIS) program (15 U.S.C. §@313d). Pursuant to congressionaldirection, NIDIS supports and integrates interorganizational information and research to support an early warning sy stem for drought. NIDIS is authorized to receive appropriations through FY2023. Most federal financial aid for drought addresses agricultural production loss and rural water s upplies. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers several programs that can assist farmers andranchers during a drought, including subsidized insurance; direct payments for crop, livestock, and feedlos s; loans; and cost sharing to rehabilitate damaged lands or implement conservation practices related to drought preparedness. The USDA secretarial dis aster designation for drought and some USDA programs 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 NOAA, USDA, and the nonfederal National Drought Mitigation Center. Other nonagriculturalUSDA programs providegrants andloans to rural communities for drinking water orwastewater projects, which also may as sist with drought preparedness. Some federal authorities provide financial as sistance with other aspects of drought, but these programs are limited in scope. For instance, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) operates a Drought Response Program, which provides limited funding for contingency planning, resiliency projects, and emergency response actions in the 17 arid and semiarid western states. Some Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) programs for hazard mitigation, such as the Hazard MitigationGrant Programand the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) programalso may assist in preparing for and reducing drought risks. However, state and local entities retain mostof the authority and resources for influencing water use. Timely information, such as the U.S. Drought Monitor, relies on federal investment in remote observations (e.g., satellites); surface observations andmonitoring (e.g., s treamg ages, soil moisture, precipitation measurements); complex hydrological models; anddisseminationand research through NIDIS. Although understanding of drought frequency, intensity, and duration due to climate and weather conditions has improved, the current state of scientific understanding limits more accurate predictions beyond a two-weektime frame (e.g., precipitation predictions at the sub-seasonal to seasonal times cale remain a challenge). Drought and Federal Dam Operations Reservoirs and dams operatedby Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) store water for irrigation and for municipal and industrial uses, among other purposes. The Water Supply Act of 1958 (72 Stat. ttps:/'crsreports.congress.gc

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