A team of USGS scientists will be participating in a new USGS Tribal Engagement Series on drought in the Colorado River Basin
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USGS scientists from the Rocky Mountain and Southwest Regions and beyond will participate in a USGS Open House held in Albuquerque at the Southwest Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) on Tuesday September 26, as part of a series of Tribal engagement events on drought.
This event invites Indigenous students, Tribal Governments, and USGS scientists to meet and discuss drought issues and will include tables and interactive engagement with USGS scientists, an introduction to USGS drought science expertise and examples of projects in collaboration with Tribal Nations, and a panel discussion.
Listening sessions with USGS scientists and Tribal Governments designed towards identifying areas for technical assistance, training, and co-production of science will follow this fall and winter.
USGS scientists that are planning to participate include: Jessica Driscoll, Adrian Monroe (FORT), Ernie Valdez (FORT), Allison Shipp, Mike Johnson, Shaleene Chavarria, Jenna Shelton, Rachel Loehman, Anani Shomour, Andy Creighton, Andre Ritchie, Rae Ann, and Liz Williams.
Check out some photos from the event:
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Can a drought be relieved by bringing in water from other regions of the country that have excess water?
Any large-scale projects for mitigating drought in the U.S. would fall under the direction of the Bureau of Reclamation , which is the federal agency tasked with water management. While technically feasible, transporting surface water from flood areas (or the ocean) to drought areas faces many challenges including water rights, property rights, environmental impacts, and more. Then there's the...
What causes drought?
A drought is a period of drier-than-normal conditions that results in water-related problems. The amount of precipitation at a particular location varies from year to year, but over a period of years the average amount is fairly constant. In the deserts of the Southwest, the average precipitation is less than 3 inches per year. In contrast, the average precipitation in the Northwest is more than...
When does a drought begin and end?
The beginning of a drought is difficult to determine. Several weeks, months, or even years might pass before people know that a drought is occurring. The end of a drought can occur as gradually as it began. The first evidence of drought is usually seen in records of rainfall. Within a short period of time, the amount of moisture in soils can begin to decrease. The effects of a drought on flow in...
Where in the Nation are droughts or very low flows occurring now? How can I see these sites on a map and get to the data?
To view the USGS streamflow information on drought, see the drought map on our WaterWatch site, which shows below-normal, 7-day average streamflow compared to historical streamflow for the United States. Links to additional maps and drought data are listed on the USGS Drought website and the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) .
Why doesn't a drought end when it rains?
Rainfall in any form will provide some drought relief. A good analogy might be how medicine and illness relate to each other. A single dose of medicine can alleviate symptoms of illness, but it usually takes a sustained program of medication to cure an illness. Likewise, a single rainstorm will not break the drought, but it might provide temporary relief. A light to moderate shower will probably...
Related Content
Drought in the Colorado River Basin
Colorado River Basin: Actionable and Strategic Integrated Science and Technology
Can a drought be relieved by bringing in water from other regions of the country that have excess water?
Any large-scale projects for mitigating drought in the U.S. would fall under the direction of the Bureau of Reclamation , which is the federal agency tasked with water management. While technically feasible, transporting surface water from flood areas (or the ocean) to drought areas faces many challenges including water rights, property rights, environmental impacts, and more. Then there's the...
What causes drought?
A drought is a period of drier-than-normal conditions that results in water-related problems. The amount of precipitation at a particular location varies from year to year, but over a period of years the average amount is fairly constant. In the deserts of the Southwest, the average precipitation is less than 3 inches per year. In contrast, the average precipitation in the Northwest is more than...
When does a drought begin and end?
The beginning of a drought is difficult to determine. Several weeks, months, or even years might pass before people know that a drought is occurring. The end of a drought can occur as gradually as it began. The first evidence of drought is usually seen in records of rainfall. Within a short period of time, the amount of moisture in soils can begin to decrease. The effects of a drought on flow in...
Where in the Nation are droughts or very low flows occurring now? How can I see these sites on a map and get to the data?
To view the USGS streamflow information on drought, see the drought map on our WaterWatch site, which shows below-normal, 7-day average streamflow compared to historical streamflow for the United States. Links to additional maps and drought data are listed on the USGS Drought website and the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) .
Why doesn't a drought end when it rains?
Rainfall in any form will provide some drought relief. A good analogy might be how medicine and illness relate to each other. A single dose of medicine can alleviate symptoms of illness, but it usually takes a sustained program of medication to cure an illness. Likewise, a single rainstorm will not break the drought, but it might provide temporary relief. A light to moderate shower will probably...
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