Great Plains Drought Workshop Rapid City, South Dakota August 29-31, 2000 Preliminary Report

The Great Plains Drought Workshop was held on August 29-31, 2000, at the Ramkota Conference Center in Rapid City, South Dakota. The workshop was hosted by the Bureau of Reclamation, Army Corps of Engineers, Western Area Power Administration, Western Governor’s Association, Western States Water Council, Mni Sose Intertribal Water Rights Coalition, Fourt States Irrigation Council, Upper Missouri Water Association, and Mid-west Electric Consumers Association. The workshop’s goals were to provide participants with drought planning information, tools, and processes and to identify opportunities to improve mitigation and response to droughts.   The workshop was attended by a diverse group of professionals in emergency management, tribal environmental and water resource departments, rural water users, state agricultural and water offices, university environmental departments, and federal government.   Presentations throughout the agenda (1) provided examples of planning processes utilized by state, tribal, and local entities, and (2) identified approaches to address mitigation strategies and tools in drought plans.   The agenda topics included: state, tribal, and local drought planning; overview of federal programs; evolution and important of state and local drought plans; western perspectives in the drought planning process; implementing drought plans-public involvement, monitoring, and triggers; developing and implementing mitigation strategies in drought plans; drought assistance programs; and history of droughts in the Plains and an overview of 1988 drought and implications for the future.   At the close of the workshop, participants gained valuable information on addressing the following questions: ·   What is considered drought? ·   Why should Tribes have a drought management plan? ·   What is involved in developing a drought plan? ·   What are the benefits/obstacles of developing a drought plan? ·   How are stakeholders involved in this process? ·   What tools are available for planning and implementing drought management plans? ·   What local/tribal/state/federal drought assistance programs are available?

Questions and Comments

Question: What are the key issues/obstacles to the development and implementation of drought plans?
Comments
Maintaining momentum and keeping the plan useful.
Developing plans that won’t just end up on the shelf.
New views - shifting from response to mitigation can be a barrier.
Once the plan is done, getting commitments from parties for implementation actions (mitigation).
Loss of continuity between droughts, limited funding, and shortage of personnel.
Predictability of droughts hurts ability to implement plans and lack of trust/buy-in to triggers.
Perception that water conservation actions will allow other users to stake claim to unused water (use-it or lose-it concept).
Re-orientation of agency leadership - paradigm shift to mitigation from response.
Water laws and interstate compacts issues may be barrier to success.
Urban growth and demands on water - how it is effecting agriculture - control growth to reduce conflicts.
Utilization and acceptance of basic science in drought plans is important to success.
Lack of economic development data to determine drought impacts (i.e., loss of recreation use due to low water levels).
The plan should define responsibilities and commitment to action in advance.
It is very difficult to limit water allocations for farmers, up-front, early during drought periods. The uncertainty of future supplies may create unneeded economic hardship.
Cost sharing programs for water conservation measures are important.
Developing triggers for drought actions and continual monitoring is important.
Large-scale water conservation projects are essential to drought mitigation.
Colorado has no state water plan, which may be a political obstacle.
Sometime very little gets done during nondrought periods. However, when initiatives are ready to go, in the event of drought, there is a better possibility of legislative authorization. An example is the Montana drought plan which had stakeholder based support for changes in water law, including authority to make emergency appropriations, which later was enacted in legislature during a drought.
Politicians seem to be financing “Band-Aid” solutions to long-term problems.
When appropriate, use memorandum of understanding type agreements to clarify state/local or other entities participation in plan.
Need drought assistance organization by county.
Lack of recognition of Tribes as government entities can be a barrier in drought plans.
Lack of planning resources or methods for unified plans can be a barrier for Tribes.
Drought priority levels related to tribal culture is a barrier.
Tribal drought declaration authority can be an issue.
Drought economical impact assessment and recovery is an issue for Tribes.
Tribes would focus on domestic water use during droughts due to stresses on system.

Question: How can you better involve stakeholders in the process?
Comments
Use existing networks.
Demonstrate benefits for stakeholders to participate in process.
Recognition of Tribes as stakeholders by federal/state/local entities is important.
Make drought-related data available to tribal public.
Form federal/state/local/tribal scientific workgroups.
Ask questions to encourage two-way communications.
Local meetings are the start to developing any support without a pre-determined plan.
Encourage local contingency planning and awareness of available options.
Texas and Kansas require contingency plans by local water entities.
Best way to get stakeholder’s involvement is to make them mad or use crisis situation to generate interest.
Try to develop a commitment from stakeholder to a united message on drought issues.
Volunteer/incentive-based programs as opposed to regulation.
Involve bottom-up local leadership.
Leadership at top - Governor is important to success.
Listen to what stakeholders are worried about losing.
Need for agencies to convey the same message in order to avoid confusion.
Need to convince and get Governor’s support to enlist tribal, state, and federal agencies.
TNRCC model plans and back-up support from state Emergency Management agency have improved communication with local officials (mayors and judges).
Public education program is important, especially at elementary level.

Question: What are the key items you can take away from this meeting?
Comments:
Exchange of blueprints for drought plans.
Seek opportunities to use exercises to ‘test’ plans.
Exercises help to work out communications, etc.
Focus on a locally led process.
Support funding for assistance programs.
Ask yourself, “Do we have a good state process ?”
Ensure “Inclusion of all Communities and Cultures”- Tribes, etc.
Understand the need for strong state leadership to interface between local governments and federal agencies.
Remember to update plans continually.
Use Internet and drought websites to keep up-to-date on issues/ideas.
Seek opportunities to share ideas and experiences.

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