Geoscientists from around the globe will gather next month to address "Managing Drought and Water Scarcity in Vulnerable Environments: Creating a Roadmap for Change in the United States." The conference, convened by the Geological Society of America, takes place 18-20 September at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, Longmont, Colorado, USA.
"In the U.S., drought has been viewed largely as a natural hazard, eliciting a reactive response that may be characterized as a 'hydro-illogical' model," said Donald A. Wilhite, Director, National Drought Mitigation Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and technical program chair of the conference. "What we're looking to accomplish is a shift from crisis management to risk management."
According to Wilhite, a driving force behind the meeting is the need to ensure adequate water resources for future generations when drought periods and their impacts are expected to increase. Drought is a nationwide issue, as reflected by conference registration which spans states from California to Florida and Arizona to New Jersey.
Wilhite notes that other countries have developed forward-looking drought policies and practices. International research and experience will be shared by attendees from Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, India, and Iran.
Conference outcomes will include recommendations for changes in policy and practice. A document will be developed after the meeting for use in supporting congressional visits, letter-writing campaigns, and other efforts to accomplish policy change.
Scientific Program
The program consists of invited talks, volunteered posters, field trips, and discussion sessions. Topics include:
+ Paleo-record of drought in the U.S. and implications for the future
+ Decadal-scale drought and changing vulnerabilities
+ New technologies for drought prediction and monitoring
+ Impacts of climate change
+ Drought and water quality
+ Drought risk management
+ Water storage issues
