Resources for Working with Drought

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What is Drought?

Drought is a deficiency in precipitation over an extended period, usually a season or more, resulting in a water shortage causing adverse impacts on vegetation, animals, and/or people. It is a normal, recurrent feature of climate that occurs in virtually all climate zones, from very wet to very dry. Drought is a temporary aberration from normal climatic conditions, thus it can vary significantly from one region to another. Drought is different than aridity, which is a permanent feature of the climate in regions where low precipitation is the norm, as in a desert.

Human factors, such as water demand and water management, can exacerbate the impact that drought has on a region. Because of the interplay between a natural drought event and various human factors, drought means different things to different people. In practice, drought is defined in many ways that reflect various perspectives and interests.  

Defining Drought

NPNRD Community Drought Plan

The NPNRD Board of Directors has approved the North Platte NRD Community Drought Plan after stakeholders all over the District came together to participate in the District’s first-ever drought planning process.  These conversations, and the ideas they generated, have evolved into the current Drought Plan.

For more information on the North Platte NRD Area Drought, Tournament click here. Also, Click Here for the Drought Plan page.

For detailed Drought information please check out the PDF, Planning, and Drought by James C. Schwab, AICP, Editor. Below is the table contents for Planning and Drought that you may find useful.

Nebraska’s Climate Assessment Response Committee (CARC) Drought Mitigation and Response Plan – includes responsibilities of different government agencies on drought response.

Rural Stress Resouces

*Please reach out, drought affects all of those in a community and we all respond differently.
Local Contacts 
  • North Platte NRD - Irrigation Districts List Here
  • Pathfinder Irrigation District Website Here or they can call at (308) 623-1022
  • Goshen Irrigation Districts Website here in connection with Gering-Ft. Laramie

Drought Related Links

Surface Water
Ground Water
Air Quality Links
Climate Links
  • Historical Drought in the US (Wikipedia)
  • US Drought Portal – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS)
    • The National Drought Policy Act enacted by Congress in July 1998. This law established “an advisory committee to provide advice and recommendations on the creation of an integrated, coordinated Federal policy designed to prepare for and respond to serious drought emergencies.” The law established the National Drought Policy Commission and directed them to “conduct a thorough study and submit a report on national drought policy.

Water Conservation Tips

It is important to look at some of the small things we do that can save water.  Little things can add up to big savings if we take the time to look.  These little adjustments can also help to save money!  Check out the links below to see all the different ways we can help conserve water.

For the Kids

Weather Articles 

If you have an interest in weather-related articles you can find them here on an additional page. 

 

 

More Resources for Working with Drought: