Drought is a normal part of climate for virtually all regions of the United States. Recent droughts have highlighted the increasing vulnerability of all regions to drought-induced water shortages. Climate change and potential increases in the frequency, severity, and duration of drought episodes is further exacerbating water management issues and conflicts among users. With mounting pressure on finite water supplies from expanding and shifting population, urbanization, environmental degradation, and many other factors, it is imperative for the United States to consider a paradigm shift to a risk-based approach to drought management. Managing Drought and Water Scarcity in Vulnerable Environments: Creating the Roadmap for Change in the United States is the first national level meeting concerned with both the science and the policy of drought management that involves stakeholders from many disciplines and perspectives and that is convened for the purpose of creating a science- and policy-based briefing document. The goals of the meeting are to create an integrated, interactive forum for understanding and improving our management of drought and water scarcity in the United States, and to stimulate national debate through the publication and wide distribution of The Roadmap for Change, a science- and policy-based briefing document. The meeting, which is convened by the Geological Society of America and 22 meeting partners, is designed to promote collaboration between the policy and science communities. A variety of formats will encourage attendee participation: plenary and invited talks, panel discussions, interactive roundtables and breakout group discussions, and poster presentations of case studies and innovative research and outreach efforts. Invited speakers are among the best qualified in their respective disciplines, and represent a broad perspective on drought management. The key findings and recommendations of this meeting will be distributed in electronic format as The Roadmap for Change. This science- and policy-based briefing document will identify needed scientific research for a more reliable and usable technical basis for public policy decision-making, and identify successful, promising, and novel approaches to developing drought science-based policies and programs. It is important to have many perspectives represented, and many of the stakeholders will need financial assistance to travel to and attend the meeting. The purpose of this funding request is to provide travel and registration support to stakeholders who otherwise would not be able to attend, including underrepresented groups such as Native American and Hispanic people, and students. We will seek applications from these underrepresented groups through our web site and our network of contacts. What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity? In the face of mounting pressure on finite water supplies, it is imperative for the United States to consider a paradigm shift to a risk-based approach to drought management. This meeting is unique in that it seeks the perspective of a range of stakeholders, including scientists, policy makers, and water users, to create a unique collaborative document, The Roadmap for Change. This science- and policy-based briefing document will identify the needed scientific research that can provide a more reliable and usable technical basis for public policy decision-making, and will identify successful, promising, and novel approaches to developing drought science-based policies and programs. What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity? This collaborative, interactive forum for understanding and improving our management of drought and water scarcity will serve as an example of a model for inclusive and integrated science and policy discussions. The Roadmap for Change will stimulate national debate on the challenges of drought and water scarcity in the United States, and will be useful in efforts to effect policy changes.
