2016-2017 regional drought early warning, impacts, and assessment workshops in the Rio Grande Basin

Authors: Brown, David

Submitted to: Grazinglands Research Laboratory Miscellaneous Publication
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2017
Publication Date: 12/1/2017
Citation: Brown, D.P. 2017. 2016-2017 regional drought early warning, impacts, and assessment workshops in the Rio Grande Basin. Climate Services Partnership Newsletter. Available at: http://www.climate-services.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/CSP_Newsletter_Dec2017.pdf.

Interpretive Summary: In response to the issuance of a La Niña watch in 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Drought Mitigation Center initiated a collaborative effort to provide regional drought early warning information to water and agriculture management interests in and proximate to the Rio Grande basin. With contributions from other federal, state, private sector, and academic partners, six stakeholder workshops were convened between October 2016 and December 2017. These workshops centered on (1) the provision of timely weather, water, and climate forecasts on a regional basis as well as historical and future contexts for drought; (2) the dissemination of tools and information resources related to drought early warning, preparedness, and education; and (3) the solicitation of expert user perspectives on drought management challenges and strategies. Outputs from the workshops included the identification of key physical and social science research questions associated with the impacts of extreme events on water and agriculture, the promotion of regional literacy on weather, water, and climate issues, and the engagement of cross-jurisdictional and transboundary partners and audiences. The workshops further contributed to broad, ongoing regional initiatives to enhance the decision-making capacity of water and agricultural interests through early warning of an extreme event, support implementation of adaptive management strategies, and foster new information networks.

Technical Abstract: In response to the issuance of a La Niña watch in 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Drought Mitigation Center initiated a collaborative effort to provide regional drought early warning information to water and agriculture management interests in and proximate to the Rio Grande basin. With contributions from other federal, state, private sector, and academic partners, six stakeholder workshops were convened between October 2016 and December 2017. These workshops centered on (1) the provision of timely weather, water, and climate forecasts on a regional basis as well as historical and future contexts for drought; (2) the dissemination of tools and information resources related to drought early warning, preparedness, and education; and (3) the solicitation of expert user perspectives on drought management challenges and strategies. Outputs from the workshops included the identification of key physical and social science research questions associated with the impacts of extreme events on water and agriculture, the promotion of regional literacy on weather, water, and climate issues, and the engagement of cross-jurisdictional and transboundary partners and audiences. The workshops further contributed to broad, ongoing regional initiatives to enhance the decision-making capacity of water and agricultural interests through early warning of an extreme event, support implementation of adaptive management strategies, and foster new information networks.