As drought in the Northern Plains continues to worsen, this webinar series will provide Tribal Nations up-to-date information on drought and its impacts, as well as related resources to help them prepare and respond.

The recent webinar provided stakeholders and other interested parties in the region with timely information on the current drought status and outlook, as well as the wildland fire potential outlook.

While drought is commonly defined by precipitation and runoff deficits, the study challenges this understanding by proposing a new definition: anthropogenic drought. Within human‐water systems, drought must be defined and understood as the complex and interrelated dynamics of both natural and human‐induced changes, the authors say.

The Plan for the Midwest Drought Early Warning System (DEWS) will help identify gaps and needs within the region through a consultative process, which can be used to direct NIDIS and other federal agency funding as well as justify other investments. The partner input sessions will ensure that the Plan accurately represents the needs of regional partners.

The webinar, funded by NIDIS and hosted by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) Water Policy Center, will welcome state and local experts for a panel discussion on how to reduce drought impacts for the most vulnerable sectors.