SHIFTING THE PARADIGM FROM CRISIS TO RISK MANAGEMENT

Drought is a normal part of climate for virtually all parts of the United States. To better address the risks associated with this hazard and society=s vulnerability to it, there must be a dramatic paradigm shift in our approach to drought management in the coming decades. The typical approach has been to follow the hydro-illogical cycle and react to drought in the post-drought periodCan approach that has proven to be ineffective, untimely, and poorly coordinated within and between levels of government in the United States. This approach not only provides a disincentive to improved resource management practices but also has been shown to actually decrease self-reliance in many cases, increasing vulnerability to future drought episodes. The trend is clearly away from no planning or response planning to risk-based drought mitigation planning, but progress has been slow because of the unique characteristics of drought (as compared to other natural hazards), institutional inertia, and the lack of political will. Drought mitigation planning, associated with a risk assessment process, seeks to examine the principal impacts of drought and identify the causes for these impacts and potential mitigation actions that will lessen risk for future events.

Recent drought episodes have highlighted the increasing vulnerability of all regions to drought-induced water shortages. Drought-related impacts can be expected to increase in intensity in the 21st century in the face of mounting pressure on finite water supplies from expanding and shifting population, urbanization, environmental degradation, and many other factors. The threat of climate change and potential increases in the frequency, severity, and duration of drought episodes are further exacerbating water management issues and conflicts among users. To evaluate current drought-related problems and anticipate future issues, this participatory conference seeks to identify successful strategies for drought and water scarcity management and to develop a clear and decisive plan of action or ‘Roadmap' for change.