NIDIS Coping with Drought Research Competition
What Is the Coping with Drought Research Competition?
Since 2007, the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) has funded 86 innovative drought research projects through the Coping with Drought research competition. Research through the Coping with Drought competition assesses impacts of drought on agriculture, ecosystems, and water resources and develops decision support tools for regional, state, and local use. This research contributes to the understanding of how communities become aware of drought threats and how they can improve preparation and planning. The projects incorporate consultation with stakeholders, and focus on information that is most useful for decision-making to reduce vulnerability; models and tools that bring this information to decision makers; and strategies for improving NIDIS’ engagement with communities in preparedness.
FY26 NIDIS Coping with Drought Competition to Improve Drought Assessment
NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) has awarded $3,920,150 in funding for nine new research projects to improve drought assessment. These projects support NOAA’s mission by advancing our scientific understanding of drought and partnerships that help turn scientific understanding into long-term drought resilience.
The projects, funded through the Coping with Drought research competition, will improve drought indicators and assessment in order to support more informed and timely decisions, thereby leading to reduced impacts and costs as mandated by the NIDIS’s Public Law.
This funding will be distributed to 15 institutions across 14 states in the Southeast, Southern Plains, Midwest, West, Northeast, and the U.S. Pacific Islands. These awards will enable state and local governments to better understand, plan for, and ultimately address the needs of their citizens through risk-informed decisions to prepare for and mitigate the impacts of drought.
This funding competition focuses on applied research to improve drought indicator performance to account for fluctuations and changes in drought, with the goal of more accurate drought assessments. More accurate drought assessments will result in better decisions and reduced drought risk across sectors of the U.S. economy. The outcomes of these projects will help reduce drought’s economic impacts to agriculture, water resource management, natural resource management, hydropower, forestry, electric and public water utilities, recreation, tourism and hospitality, and emergency management.
Previous Coping with Drought Competitions
The Coping with Drought competition is typically offered every one to two years. Themes may differ for each competition and are informed by needs and emerging issues identified by a broad range of stakeholders across the United States. Explore featured NIDIS-supported research from previous Coping with Drought competitions below.
Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 NIDIS Coping with Drought Competition
NIDIS awarded $3,920,150 for nine new research projects to improve drought assessment. These projects support NOAA’s mission by advancing our scientific understanding of drought and partnerships that help turn scientific understanding into long-term drought resilience.
This funding competition focuses on applied research to improve drought indicator performance to account for fluctuations and changes in drought, with the goal of more accurate drought assessments. More accurate drought assessments will result in better decisions and reduced drought risk across sectors of the U.S. economy. The outcomes of these projects will help reduce drought’s economic impacts to agriculture, water resource management, natural resource management, hydropower, forestry, electric and public water utilities, recreation, tourism and hospitality, and emergency management.
Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 NIDIS Coping with Drought Competition
NIDIS awarded $1.95 million in funding for projects to support tribal drought resilience as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. This investment will help tribal nations address current and future drought risk on tribal lands across the Western U.S. while informing decision-making and strengthening tribal drought resilience in a changing climate.
These new funds will support projects by tribal nations to help understand and mitigate drought impacts to the land, water supply, traditional foods, and cultural practices.
The funding supports four projects led by tribal nations that own lands within the American West, including the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in Washington, the Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy’s Reservation in Montana, and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota.
Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 NIDIS Coping with Drought Competitions
For the FY 2022 Coping with Drought competitions, NIDIS funded twelve 2-year projects across two research areas: Ecological Drought (7 projects) and Building Tribal Drought Resilience (5 projects).
The competitively selected projects total $6,269,035 over 2 years, including $5,697,148 in cooperative agreements and $571,887 in other awards.
FY 2022 Coping with Drought: Ecological Drought Projects
FY 2022 Coping with Drought: Building Tribal Drought Resilience Projects
Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 NIDIS Coping with Drought Competition
For the FY 2020 Coping with Drought competition, NIDIS funded five 2-year projects that aim to improve our understanding and use of drought indicators, thresholds and triggers, and drought impact reporting to inform decision-making to prepare for and respond to drought. NIDIS encouraged applicants to focus on industry and economic sectors beyond agriculture (e.g., tourism and recreation, navigation, water utilities, manufacturing, ecosystem services, and public health).
FY 2020 Coping with Drought Projects
Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 NIDIS Coping with Drought Competition
For FY 2019, the Coping with Drought research competition focused on projects within the NIDIS Regional Drought Early Warning Systems (DEWS). Individual topics to be addressed included business and decision calendars, water markets, and drought triggers and indicators.
Featured FY 2019 Coping with Drought Projects
Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 NIDIS Coping with Drought Competition
For FY 2018, the Coping with Drought research competition focused on science communication and understanding behavioral changes due to forecasts, decision calendars, improved and varied communication techniques, and innovative collaborations in water-scarce and water-stressed environments.
Featured FY 2018 Coping with Drought Projects
Fiscal Year (FY) 2007–2016 NIDIS Coping with Drought Competitions
The Coping with Drought research competition began in 2007. Explore featured NIDIS-supported research projects from FY 2007–FY 2016. Or, see a complete list of past projects.