Missouri River Basin Drought Early Warning System Partners Meeting

NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) is partnering with the Northern Great Plains Regional Incubator for Drought Resiliency, University of Montana, and Montana Climate Office to host a Missouri River Basin Drought Early Warning System (DEWS) Partners Meeting on September 15-16, 2026. This meeting will be preceded by the Tribal Pre-Conference Workshop, “Building a Tribal Community of Practice around Drought in the Missouri River Basin,” the evening of Monday, September 14, 2026. 

This meeting offers a valuable opportunity to connect with federal, Tribal, state, and local partners as we discuss the future of drought early warning across the region. Together, we will share lessons learned, explore new monitoring tools and indicators, and discuss the potential for a shared regional assessment framework. The perspectives of partners are essential for identifying critical gaps, prioritizing emerging research, and building stronger collaborative networks—including ties to the Northern Great Plains Regional Incubator in Drought Resiliency—to ensure our regional coordination is as cohesive and effective as possible.

Meeting Goals & Desired Outcomes 

Building a Tribal Community of Practice around Drought in the Missouri River Basin (Tribal Pre-Conference Workshop)

The purpose of this meeting is to bring together Tribal Nations in the Missouri River Basin to discuss drought resilience successes and needs, as well as to build the foundation for establishing a tribal community of practice around drought in the Basin.

• Goal 1: Share successes and challenges around drought resilience to facilitate information exchange and learn from one another.
• Goal 2: Identify the highest-priority gaps and needs around drought monitoring, planning, and assessment for the next five years to help inform the NIDIS Tribal Drought Engagement Strategy.
• Goal 3: Develop a framework for establishing a tribal community of practice around drought in the Missouri River Basin.

Missouri River Basin Drought Early Warning System (DEWS) Partners Meeting

This gathering will provide an opportunity for partners in the Missouri River Basin DEWS to review progress and build actionable next steps for a next-generation Missouri River Basin Drought Early Warning System. This includes key input for the Missouri River Basin DEWS Strategic Plan and the National Science Foundation–funded Northern Great Plains Regional Incubator for Drought Resilience.

• Goal 1: Foster strategic networks and new collaborations among Missouri River Basin DEWS Partners.
• Goal 2: Share drought early warning successes, challenges, and lessons learned. 
• Goal 3: Advance next-generation monitoring and tools. 
• Goal 4: Introduce the concept of a Regional Assessment Framework. 
• Goal 5: Evaluate operational applications and limitations of drought indicators.