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Managing Drought and Water Scarcity in Vulnerable Environments: Creating a Roadmap for Change in the United States Conference in Longmont, CO.

A national conference was sponsored by the Geological Society of America (GSA) and twenty other scientific and technical organizations in Longmont, CO in September 2006. The theme of the conference was, Managing Drought and Water Scarcity in Vulnerable Environments: Creating a Roadmap for Change in the United States. It provided a timely opportunity to work with physical, social and life scientists, Native Americans, policy makers, water managers and users, and students.

The participants shared key observations about present drought and vulnerability to future droughts in the U.S.

  1. Multiple severe droughts since 1996 have had substantial economic, social, and environmental impacts in many regions of the country.
  2. Global climate change is expected to increase the frequency, intensity, and duration of droughts in the U.S.
  3. Government is poorly prepared for drought.
Organizations participating in the conference sponsored by
Geological Society of America at Longmont, CO in September 2006
American Meteorological Society
American Water Resources Association
American Water Works Association
Colorado State University
Desert Research Institute
Ecological Society of America
Groundwater Foundation
National Center for Atmospheric Research
National Drought Mitigation Center
National Ground Water Association
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Water Research Institute
National Institutes for Water Resources
Natural Hazards Center
Society for Range Management
Soil Science Society of America
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Geological Survey
Western Rural Development Center
Western Water Assessment