Emerging resilience: How the 2018 Colorado Plateau drought spurred the Drought Learning Network

Abstract:

Exceptional drought persisted over the Colorado Plateau for nearly all 2018. Drought effects were far-reaching since this area serves as the headwaters for major rivers including tributaries to the Colorado River and the Rio Grande. While unprecedented drought affected historic agriculture, extensive public lands, and recreation and tourism, the impacts could have been much worse. Factors conferring resilience included plentiful initial reservoir water storage, sophisticated irrigation system planning and water shortage sharing agreements. As drought conditions continued, producers hauled water for livestock and wildlife. Local service-based organizations and established supportive relationships between climate service provider and resource manager led to resilience in specific instances.

The 2018 drought was reminiscent of a similar trajectory from the recent past. However, resource managers were not intentionally better prepared for the 2018 drought than they were in 2002. In response, three climate service providers: the USDA Southwest Climate Hub, the National Drought Mitigation Center and National Integrated Drought Information System convened partners to conceptualize a Drought Learning Network (DLN). A pre-workshop survey of resource managers showed nearly all (95%) interested in accessing information about best practices and lessons learned from other resource managers during drought. The DLN goals are a) fostering bidirectional knowledge exchange in learning about community and researcher needs, resources, responses and knowledge gaps; b) supporting the creation of a self-directed peer-to-peer learning networks; c) establishing structures to best respond to future drought.

This presentation highlights the activities of the five initial and one emergent drought adaptation teams of the DLN within the context of the COVID pandemic, highlighting synergies and partnerships that conferred both efficiency and efficacy in peer-to-peer drought response.