Laserfiche WebLink
<br />. Create a national policy for drought: The bill moves the country away from the costly, <br />response-oriented approach to drought and toward a pro-active, preparedness approach. <br />The new national policy will provide the tools and focus for Federal, State, tribal and <br />local governments to address the diverse impacts and costs caused by drought. <br />. Improve delivery of federal drought programs: To ensure improved program delivery, <br />integration and leadership, the National Drought Preparedness Act establishes the <br />National Drought Council under the direction of the Secretary of Agriculture. The <br />Council will build on existing programs and provide the coordinating and integrating <br />function for federal drought programs while making recornmendations to improve <br />existing federal drought programs. <br />. Provide new tools for drought preparedness planning: Building on existing water policy, <br />the Drought Council will assist states, local governments, tribes and other entities in the <br />development and implementation of drought preparedness plans. The bill does not <br />mandate state and local planning, but is intended to facilitate the development and <br />implementation of drought plans through establishment of a "Drought Assistance Fund." <br />Importantly, the bill also preserves state authority over water allocation. <br />. Improve forecasting and monitoring: The Drought Council will facilitate the <br />development of the National Integrated Drought System in order to improve the <br />characterization of current drought conditions and the forecasting of future droughts, as <br />well as provide a better basis to "trigger" federal drought assistance. <br /> <br />Senator Wyden Launches Online List of Drought Resources: Following a promise at his <br />Drought Preparedness Forum, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden has posted a list of drought resources on <br />his website. The list includes resources for various water users - agricultural users, fishermen, <br />small businesses, those impacted by increased energy costs, recreational users, and others - who <br />may suffer the consequences of a dry spring and swnmer in Oregon. <br />Wyden convened the Drought Preparedn~ss Forum in Salem on Marc~ 29 to bring together water <br />users from across the state with government agencies to discuss the pr~parations for the severe <br />water shortage that is predicted for Oregon this swnmer. Representatives from a broad array of <br />commercial and non-commercial interests attended and discussed the anticipated impacts on <br />municipal water users, agriculture and other water-dependent businesses, energy costs, fish and <br />wildlife, wildfire, and recreation. Federal and state agencies also attended and spoke about their <br />efforts to prepare for a drought. <br /> <br />After hearing from numerous agencies about the programs and resources they have available to <br />assist people in the event of drought, Wyden promised to pull together a list of drought resources <br />- all in one place - to help Oregonians navigate the many agencies that deal with drought issues. <br /> <br />The list of drought resources is available through Wyden's website at: <br />http://wvden.senate.gov/mediaJDrougth Resources 200S/drought resources.html. <br /> <br />Reclamation States Drought Assistance Act: On March 17, Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) <br />introduced S. 648 to extend the authority for certain drought assistance programs under the <br />Reclamation States Drought Assistance Act of 1991 through September 30, 2010. <br /> <br />The Act permits the Secretary of the Interior make water available on a temporary basis and to <br />use Federal Reclamation water project facilities to store and convey project and non-project <br />water for use outside the authorized service area, and outlines repayment obligations for <br /> <br />8 <br /> <br />'., <br /> <br />/. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br />