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What Is the Coping with Drought Research Competition?

Since 2007, the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) has funded more than 70 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.

70+
NIDIS-funded Coping with Drought projects since 2007
$6,269,035
in funding for 2-year FY 2022 Coping with Drought projects
16 years
since NIDIS began funding the Coping with Drought competition

Now Open: NIDIS Tribal Drought Resilience with Inflation Reduction Act Support

In September 2023, NIDIS announced approximately $2 million in funding for projects to support tribal drought resilience as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda

The Climate Program Office FY 2024 NIDIS Tribal Drought Resilience with Inflation Reduction Act Support competition will focus on addressing current and future drought risk on tribal lands across the Western U.S. to support decision-making and build tribal drought resilience in a changing climate. 

Applications should be developed by or in full partnership with tribal nations. Projects must focus on the implementation of activities that address current and future drought risk in a changing climate. Eligible areas include tribal lands in the following NIDIS Drought Early Warning System (DEWS) regions: California-Nevada, Intermountain West, Missouri River Basin, Pacific Northwest, and Southern Plains.

While tribal nations have historically shown that they are resilient and can adapt to change, it is now more important than ever for tribal nations to be prepared for future droughts. This opportunity will provide support for tribal nations to implement activities to increase their resilience to drought and account for the impacts of climate change on water availability. 

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) 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

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) 2016 NIDIS Coping with Drought Competition

In FY 2016, the Coping with Drought research competition focused on advancing specific NIDIS regional Drought Early Warning Systems (DEWS), targeting specific communities and sectors within these areas. The four targeted regions and their associated focus areas include the Missouri River Basin (agricultural and/or water supply focus); Midwest along the Mississippi River (transportation, agricultural, and/or water supply focus); Colorado River Basin (water supply, recreation, tourism, and/or energy focus); and California (water, agricultural, and/or wildfire focus).

Featured FY 2016 Coping with Drought Projects