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1 [1] (October 27, 2014)

handle is hein.crs/crsuntaakdp0001 and id is 1 raw text is: L Congressional Research Serv/ice In~formarg th eq eItive debate sice 1914 October 27, 2014 Drought Policy, Response, and Preparedness Congress and other federal, state, and local policymakers are considering whether to maintain or alter current drought policies and programs. At issue are how to prepare for and respond to drought; how to coordinate actions and assign responsibilities; and who bears the costs of impacts, disaster response, and long-term adjustment to drought. State and Local Roles in Water Supply The federal government generally defers to state primacy in surface and groundwater allocation; and states and local water entities typically lead efforts to prepare for drought. As of late 2014, 44 states had drought plans. Most plans center on actions to take during a crisis. Only 13 plans incorporate efforts to reduce vulnerabilities to drought. The reactive nature and inconsistent implementation of many state plans raise questions about their current effectiveness in improving drought resilience. Some states and communities also have invested in reducing water demand and expanding drought-resilient supplies (e.g., through wastewater reuse, desalination, groundwater recharge, groundwater management districts). California, Idaho, and Texas also have facilitated water banks and water transfers. In contrast, conmmunity-level drought plans are less widespread than state plans, and research indicates that the majority of the fastest-growing counties do not integrate drought into their comprehensive or land use plans. Research shows that most U.S. cities are relatively water- resilient, but some are vulnerable because of low storage per capita, sources shared with other cities or large users, or location in arid regions. Among cities regularly identified as being at risk of supply challenges are Atlanta, GA; Cleveland, OH; El Paso, TX; Lincoln, NE; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; San Antonio, TX; and Salt Lake City, UT (see, e.g., http://soils.ifas.ufl.edu/hydrology/cities/). Notably, some of these cities are leaders in new water supply development and demand management. Federal Assistance and Operations Most federal drought assistance is for the agricultural economy and rural water supplies. With enactment of 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), as described in CRS Report RS21212. 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. This is a weekly map of drought conditions created by multiple entities and federally led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration through the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). Other USDA programs, such as conservation programs discussed in CRS Report R40763, may influence drought adaptation. States and local entities typically lead drought preparations. Most federal drought assistance is for the agricultural economy and rural water supplies. Federal assistance for emergency community water supplies is authorized; however, the authorities are limited in scope or funding, or are infrequently used, as discussed in CRS Report R43408. Some federal agencies have programs to promote water efficiency, which may improve drought resilience (e.g., product labeling by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Reclamation water efficiency grants). However, state and local entities retain most of the authority and resources for influencing municipal and industrial water use. Timely drought information, like the U.S. Drought Monitor, relies on federal investments in data from remote observations (e.g., satellites), surface observations (e.g., streamgages, and soil moisture and precipitation measurements), and complex models, and on dissemination and research through NIDIS. As described in CRS Report R43407, monitoring and improved technologies have resulted in better understanding of drought frequency, intensity, and duration due to climate and weather conditions. Federal Facilities and Drought The Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers store irrigation water and municipal and industrial water on a reimbursable basis at federally owned multipurpose dams. The Water Supply Act of 1958 (72 Stat. 320; 43 U.S.C. §390b) declared that Congress recognizes the primary responsibilities of the States and local interests in developing water supplies for domestic, municipal, industrial, and other purposes and that the Federal Government should participate and cooperate in developing these supplies at federal flood control, navigation, and irrigation projects. For the more than 1,000 federally owned dams and related infrastructure, operations are at times entangled in arguments over managing limited supplies during drought. These dams often serve multiple sectors and groups that are particularly dependent on their flow regulation services during drought. Dam operations also must comply with federal laws (Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, etc.) aimed at protecting species and other environmental values. Operational challenges have increased as water demands have grown, creating conflicts among water in storage, water delivered under contract or settlement, and flows for in-stream purposes (e.g., power plant cooling, fishing and recreation industries, water quality, and species needs). www.crs.gov i 7-5700

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