INTRODUCING A USGS-SUPPORTED LANDSLIDE HAZARD RISK REDUCTION WORKING GROUP AND GRANTS PROGRAM TO AID STATES, TRIBES, TERRITORIES, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

The 2021 National Landslide Preparedness Act (NLPA) authorizes the USGS Landslide Hazards Program (LHP) to carry out strategic actions aimed at four goals: 1) identify and understand landslide hazards and risks, 2) reduce losses from landslides, 3) protect communities at risk of landslide hazards, and 4) help improve communication and emergency preparedness, including by coordinating with communities and entities responsible for infrastructure that are at risk of landslide hazards. Coordination activities underway include two initiatives catalyzed by the NLPA including the development of a National Landslide Hazard Risk Reduction (NLHRR) working group and a Cooperative Landslide Hazard Risk Reduction (CLHRR) grants program. These initiatives complement two groups charged with overseeing and advising on landslide hazard and risk programming at the federal level: the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Landslide Hazards and the Federal Advisory Committee on Landslides. The LHP has begun scoping the NLHRR working group whose membership will draw from state, Tribal, territorial, and local governments, as well as academia, community organizations, and the private sector. Ideally, participants will represent a range of geographic regions and climatic zones that experience different types of landslide hazards and risks. The working group is intended to serve as mechanism for multi-level exchange of ideas and best-practices, facilitating collaboration between researchers, decision-support tool builders, and those making emergency and resource management decisions. Participants may also benefit from networking with colleagues facing similar compounding challenges such as, changing rainfall patterns or other climate factors, evolving community vulnerabilities, or risk communication gaps. The LHP is also initiating the CLHRR grant program directed towards state, Tribal, territorial, and local governments seeking support for activities related to landslide risk reduction. The first round of grants will focus on three priority areas: 1) landslide hazards mapping and assessments, 2) landslide hazards planning and coordination, and 3) landslide education and outreach. The grant program was appropriated funds for the first round which should start accepting applications in mid-2024.