This Story Map provides links to brief stories of planning efforts being conducted by water utilities across the United States to build resilience to natural hazards and water management challenges. These utilities have shared their experiences and lessons learned with the goal of assisting other water sector utilities that are currently developing their own plans or responding to recent events.

When a drought strikes, the ramifications can be costly. Individuals, communities and the environment can suffer when rain fails and water supplies diminish. Devastating droughts during the last decade have brought increased attention to the slow-creeping natural disaster and prompted more and more communities, stakeholders and agencies to become proactive in their approach to preparing for the next drought.

This report provides information to the Navajo Nation that has been deemed important for the future development of a climate change adaptation plan and is intended to be used by decision makers on the Nation.

Report on a workshop that took place April 8-9, 2010 in Flagstaff, Arizona between officials from the Hualapai, Zuni, Hopi, Navajo, Tohono O’odham and Southern Ute Tribes, together with NIDIS, NOAA, Climate Assessment for the Southwest (CLIMAS), Northern Arizona University, University of Arizona, Western Water Assessment, Desert Research Institute, Indigenous Waters Network, Flagstaff Science Center, USGS, National Drought Mitigation Center, Bureau of Reclamation and the Western Regional Climate Center.

Climate projections suggest persistent droughts over the continental United States that are longer, cover more area, and are more intense than what has been experienced in the 20th century. Unlike hurricanes, which have a clear beginning and end, drought is a slow on-set hazard and its effects are not felt at once and can only be partially anticipated. Further, drought has unique characteristics that exacerbate other hazards, like wildfire and flooding.

Brief report on engagement meeting. Participants included Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas, Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska and Haskell Indian Nations University.

Citizen scientists with the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow (CoCoRaHS) network provide daily precipitation measurements. Volunteers’ knowledge about the local environment and how weather influences it can reveal much more than can be learned from recording daily rainfall alone. With all the extra “CoCoRaHS eyes and ears” out there, Condition Monitoring reports provide context to conditions as typically expressed by quantitative indicators and indices.

Two-pager recounts Tribal Engagement Workshop in Rapid City, SD held Sept. 17-18, 2014. Includes participant list, next steps, link to presentations, map of Tribal Lands in Missouri River Basin.

Overview of the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) and National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) held on September 18, 2012. Includes description of the event, feedback, and recommendations for the future.

From Too Much to Too Little provides an assessment of the 2012 central U.S. drought.