{ "id": "R42610", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R42610", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 444905, "date": "2015-09-01", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T18:28:22.857094", "title": "Drought in the United States: CRS Experts", "summary": "Congressional Research Service\n7-5700\nwww.crs.gov\nR42610\nSummary\nDrought 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. \nS. 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 \ns.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\ns2198 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\nDrought 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\nDrought 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\nContents\nContacts\nAuthor Contact Information\t2\n\nSevere 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.\nWhile 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. \nThe 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.)\n\nLegislative IssuesName/TitlePhoneEmail\nImpacts\n\n\n\nFarm-related Issues\n\n\n\nCropsRenee Johnson\nSpecialist in Agricultural Policy7-9588rjohnson@crs.loc.gov\n\nEmployment\nTadlock Cowan\nAnalyst in Natural Resources and Rural Development\n7-7600\ntcowan@crs.loc.gov\n\nLivestock\nJoel Greene\nSpecialist in Agricultural Policy\n7-9877\njgreene@crs.loc.gov\n\nMarket Impacts\nRandy Schnepf\nSpecialist in Agricultural Policy\n7-4277\nrschnepf@crs.loc.gov\n\nWater Availability\nBetsy Cody\nSpecialist in Natural Resources Policy\n7-7229\nbcody@crs.loc.gov\n\nElectric Power Production\nRichard Campbell\nSpecialist in Energy Policy\n7-7905\nrcampbell@crs.loc.gov\n\nEnvironment\n\n\n\n\nDrinking Water Quality\nMary Tiemann\nSpecialist in Environmental Policy\n7-5937\nmtiemann@crs.loc.gov\n\nEcosystems and Species\nPervaze Sheikh Specialist in Natural Resources Policy\n7-6070\npsheikh@crs.loc.gov\n\n\nLynne Corn Specialist in Natural Resources Policy\n7-7267\nlcorn@crs.loc.gov\n\nWildfire\nKatie Hoover\nAnalyst in Natural Resources Policy\n7-9008\nkhoover@crs.loc.gov\n\nResponse and Recovery\n\n\n\n\nU.S. Department of Agriculture Disaster Assistance\nMegan Stubbs\nSpecialist in Agricultural Conservation and Natural Resources Policy\n7-8707\nmstubbs@crs.loc.gov \n\nU.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Programs\nMegan Stubbs\nSpecialist in Agricultural Conservation and Natural Resources Policy\n7-8707\nmstubbs@crs.loc.gov\n\nBureau of Reclamation\nBetsy Cody\nSpecialist in Natural Resources Policy\n7-7229\nbcody@crs.loc.gov\n\nU.S. Army Corps of Engineers\nNicole Carter\nSpecialist in Natural Resources Policy\n7-0854\nncarter@crs.loc.gov\n\nWeather and Science\n\n\n\n\nClimate Variability\nJane Leggett\nSpecialist in Energy and Environmental Policy\n7-9525\njaleggett@crs.loc.gov \n\nSatellite Technology and Observations\nPeter Folger\nSpecialist in Energy and Natural Resources Policy\n7-1517\npfolger@crs.loc.gov \n\nU.S. Drought Monitor\nPeter Folger\nSpecialist in Energy and Natural Resources Policy\n7-1517\npfolger@crs.loc.gov \n\n\n\nAuthor Contact Information\n\nAmy Abel\nSection Research Manager\naabel@crs.loc.gov, 7-7239", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R42610", "sha1": "79cbae7858b2b8bced4769c3b28030380e87e680", "filename": "files/20150901_R42610_79cbae7858b2b8bced4769c3b28030380e87e680.html", "images": null } ], "topics": [] } ], "topics": [ "Agricultural Policy", "Energy Policy", "Environmental Policy" ] }