LegiStorm

Summary:

Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov R42610 Summary Drought is commonly defined as a lack of precipitation over an extended period of time, usually a season or more, relative to some long-term average condition. While the technology and science to predict droughts have improved, regional predictions remain limited to a few months in advance. History suggests that severe and extended droughts are inevitable and part of natural climate cycles. The physical conditions causing drought in the United States are increasingly understood to be linked to sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the tropical Pacific Ocean. Although the impacts of drought can be significant nationally as well as regionally, comprehensive national drought policy does not exist. Developing such a policy would represent a significant challenge because of split federal and non-federal responsibilities, the existing patchwork of federal drought programs, and differences in regional conditions and risks. The following table provides access to names and contact information for CRS experts on policy concerns relating to drought in the United States. Policy areas identified include impacts on various sectors, response and recovery, and weather and science. S. 2198 California Drought crops drought livestock drought food prices drought commodity prices market impacts drought water availability drought drinking water quality drought wildfires drought electric power production USDA disaster assistance U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Drought Bureau of Reclamation Drought Corps U.S. Army Corps of Engineers drought Climate variability drought satellites drought monitor U.S. Drought Monitor s.2198 Drought California crops drought livestock drought food prices drought commodity prices market impacts drought water availability drought drinking water quality drought wildfires drought electric power production USDA disaster assistance U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Drought Bureau of Reclamation Drought Corps U.S. Army Corps of Engineers drought Climate variability drought satellites drought monitor U.S. Drought Monitor s2198 Drought crops drought livestock drought food prices drought commodity prices market impacts drought water availability drought drinking water quality drought wildfires drought electric power production USDA disaster assistance U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Drought Bureau of Reclamation Drought Corps U.S. Army Corps of Engineers drought Climate variability drought satellites drought monitor U.S. Drought Monitor Drought crops drought livestock drought food prices drought commodity prices market impacts drought water availability drought drinking water quality drought wildfires drought electric power production USDA disaster assistance U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Drought Bureau of Reclamation Drought Corps U.S. Army Corps of Engineers drought Climate variability drought satellites drought monitor U.S. Drought Monitor Drought crops drought livestock drought food prices drought commodity prices market impacts drought water availability drought drinking water quality drought wildfires drought electric power production USDA disaster assistance U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Drought Bureau of Reclamation Drought Corps U.S. Army Corps of Engineers drought Climate variability drought satellites drought monitor U.S. Drought Monitor Contents Contacts Author Contact Information 2 Severe drought can cause significant economic harm, affect nearly all areas of the country, and exacerbate water competition. California and much of the western United States are experiencing prolonged drought. As California experiences its fourth year of drought and the Southwest endures more than a decade of drought conditions, western water management is likely to remain an issue before Congress. On January 17, 2014, Governor Jerry Brown declared a drought emergency in California. In addition, the Secretary of Agriculture has issued disaster declarations for parts of many drought-stricken states. With enactment of the permanent livestock/fruit tree disaster programs in the 2014 farm bill (P.L. 113-79), nearly all segments of the U.S. farm sector are now covered by a standing disaster program. While the technology and science to predict droughts have improved, regional predictions remain limited to a few months in advance. The physical conditions causing drought in the United States are increasingly understood to be linked to sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the tropical Pacific Ocean. Although the impacts of drought can be significant nationally as well as regionally, comprehensive national drought policy does not exist. Developing such a policy would represent a significant challenge because of split federal and nonfederal responsibilities, the existing patchwork of federal drought programs, and differences in regional conditions and risks. The following table provides access to names and contact information for CRS experts on policy concerns relating to drought in the United States. Policy areas identified include impacts on various sectors, response and recovery, and weather and science. (For additional information, see CRS Report R43407, Drought in the United States: Causes and Current Understanding, by Peter Folger and Betsy A. Cody.) Legislative IssuesName/TitlePhoneEmail Impacts Farm-related Issues CropsRenee Johnson Specialist in Agricultural Policy7-9588rjohnson@crs.loc.gov Employment Tadlock Cowan Analyst in Natural Resources and Rural Development 7-7600 tcowan@crs.loc.gov Livestock Joel Greene Specialist in Agricultural Policy 7-9877 jgreene@crs.loc.gov Market Impacts Randy Schnepf Specialist in Agricultural Policy 7-4277 rschnepf@crs.loc.gov Water Availability Betsy Cody Specialist in Natural Resources Policy 7-7229 bcody@crs.loc.gov Electric Power Production Richard Campbell Specialist in Energy Policy 7-7905 rcampbell@crs.loc.gov Environment Drinking Water Quality Mary Tiemann Specialist in Environmental Policy 7-5937 mtiemann@crs.loc.gov Ecosystems and Species Pervaze Sheikh Specialist in Natural Resources Policy 7-6070 psheikh@crs.loc.gov Lynne Corn Specialist in Natural Resources Policy 7-7267 lcorn@crs.loc.gov Wildfire Katie Hoover Analyst in Natural Resources Policy 7-9008 khoover@crs.loc.gov Response and Recovery U.S. Department of Agriculture Disaster Assistance Megan Stubbs Specialist in Agricultural Conservation and Natural Resources Policy 7-8707 mstubbs@crs.loc.gov U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Programs Megan Stubbs Specialist in Agricultural Conservation and Natural Resources Policy 7-8707 mstubbs@crs.loc.gov Bureau of Reclamation Betsy Cody Specialist in Natural Resources Policy 7-7229 bcody@crs.loc.gov U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nicole Carter Specialist in Natural Resources Policy 7-0854 ncarter@crs.loc.gov Weather and Science Climate Variability Jane Leggett Specialist in Energy and Environmental Policy 7-9525 jaleggett@crs.loc.gov Satellite Technology and Observations Peter Folger Specialist in Energy and Natural Resources Policy 7-1517 pfolger@crs.loc.gov U.S. Drought Monitor Peter Folger Specialist in Energy and Natural Resources Policy 7-1517 pfolger@crs.loc.gov Author Contact Information Amy Abel Section Research Manager aabel@crs.loc.gov, 7-7239