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Pacific Northwest Drought and Human Health Workshop

Oct 19
October 19, 2022 - October 20, 2022
Location
Portland, OR
Two mosquitoes landing on a body of water, representing public health concerns.

On October 19–20, 2022, National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) and the University of Nebraska Medical Center co-led the Pacific Northwest Drought and Human Health Workshop, along with a number of Pacific Northwest partner organizations.  

The workshop was tailored around regional drought-related human health impacts, helping to identify gaps and needs, collaborative opportunities, and ways to integrate the health sector into existing drought activities.The audience for this workshop included state and local public health departments, climate scientists, emergency managers, tribal communities, and healthcare providers.

Meeting Goals:

  • Provide participants with a better understanding of the health impacts of drought in the Pacific Northwest
  • Engage participants across academic, healthcare, public health, and other sectors to encourage cross-sector collaboration
  • Showcase best practices on how to reduce health impacts from observed and projected increases in the frequency, duration, and severity of drought
  • Discuss strategies for further addressing and minimizing the health impacts of drought

Meeting Summary:

A summary of the workshop is now available.

Meeting Agenda:

View Full Agenda

Agenda: Day 1, Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Time (PDT) Session
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast (Continental Breakfast Provided)
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m Welcome and Introductions
9:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. Intersection between Drought and Human Health

Jesse Bell, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health 
10:20 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Break (Coffee/Tea Provided)
10:30 a.m. –12:00 p.m.

Environmental Justice and Drought

  • Alida Cantor, Portland State University 
  • Ira Cuello-Martinez, Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN) 
  • Melissa Haeffner, Portland State University 
  • Rose Poton, Oregon Water Futures Project 
  • Alai Reyes-Santos, Oregon Water Futures Project 
12:00 PM - 1:00 p.m. Lunch (Provided)
1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.

Drought Response Frameworks Panel

  • Gary Bahr, Washington Department of Agriculture 
  • Marnie Boardman, Washington Department of Health 
  • Curtis Cude, Oregon Health Authority 
  • Sheryl Howe, Washington Department of Health 
2:20 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Break (Snacks Provided)
2:30 p.m. - 3:50 p.m.

Air Quality Panel

  • Kyle Chapman, Oregon Institute of Technology 
  • Courtney Farrell, California State University – Chico 
  • Dmitri Kalashnikov, Washington State University - Vancouver 
  • Diana Rohlman, Oregon State University 
4:00 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.

Facilitated Discussion (Identifying Issues and Challenges)

Tamara Wall, Desert Research Institute 

4:50 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Closing Thoughts and Adjourn

Agenda: Day 2, Thursday, October 20, 2022

Time (PDT) Session
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast (Continental Breakfast Provided)
9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m Welcome Back & Day 2 Overview
9:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Role of NIDIS in Drought and Health

Britt Parker, NOAA National Integrated Drought Information System/Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, CU Boulder 

9:45 a.m – 10:40 a.m.

Observed and Projected Drought Conditions in the Pacific Northwest

  • Nicholas Bond, Washington State Climatologist, University of Washington 
  • Larry O’Neill, Oregon State Climatologist, Oregon State University 
10:40 a.m – 10:50 a.m. Break (Coffee/Tea Provided)
10:50 a.m - 11:30 a.m.

Drought and Mental Health

Don McMoran, Washington State University Extension 

11:30 a.m – 12:00 p.m.

Drought, Groundwater, and River Restoration

Adell Amos, University of Oregon 

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch (Provided)
1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.

Impacts of Drought on Tribal Nations

  • Gwen Carter, Nez Perce Tribe 
  • David Close, University of British Columbia 
  • Dan Martinez, Warm Springs Tribes 
  • Gillian Mittelstaedt, Tribal Healthy Homes Network 
  • Melodi Wynne, Spokane Tribal Network 
2:20 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Break (Snacks Provided)
2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Facilitated Discussion (Focus on next steps, solutions, additional activities)

Keith Hansen & Rachel Lookadoo, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health 

4:30 p.m. Closing Thoughts and Adjourn