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supplies sufficient for firefighting, It can help all stakeholders decide whether they would benefit from simulated drought-response exercises like those conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers . and how best to assess effects on the environment that their drought-related actions might have. As we heard during our deliberations, what local and state managers need are infonnation, impact- reduction strategies, and education to assist in developing locally appropriate solutions. We also heard that such assistance is not readily available from the federal government in many locations and that existing technical assistance and training programs do not always address the specific needs of stakeholders. Planning and impact-reduction strategies underlie much of the work of some nonfederal drought- related entities, including the Western Drought Coordination Council and Delaware River Basin Commission, We heard that national drought policy would do well to foster similar work, where currently no such entities exist, as well as peer exchanges among stakeholders to improve the drought planning process. Drought planning and impact-reduction measures can also help alleviate the critical effect that drought has on increasing the risk of wildfire in forests and grasslands. More training and technical assistance, we learned, can aid stakeholders in incorporating proactive measures to help overcome the three major difficulties that a 1996 report of the Western Governors' Association noted the states face in attempting to respond to and manage drought-related wildfires: 1) the financial burdens to prepare for and fight drought-related wildfires, 2) a lack of proper training and resources, and 3) restoring forest and grassland health. One important issue that stakeholders often find difficult to incorporate into drought planning and impact-reduction measures is consideration of how their drought-related actions may affect the natural environment. We heard that environmental resources often receive inadequate attention during drought emergencies and in drought planning, not so much because oflack of concern but because of lack of expertise in this arena and sometimes from lack of awareness. For example, drought-planning entities often fail to detennine which drought-related environmental impacts can be tolerated and which cannot and therefore would benefit from appropriate drought impact- reduction measures. . Stakeholder planning and impact-reduction efforts provide opportunities for the general public to become involved and invested in drought-related decisions-,forexample, adopting water conservation measures year round-and to learn more about drought, leading to greater self-reliance and self-detennination. They also emphasize local solutions based on consideration of all affected entities and related issues, including legal, economic, geographic, climate, religious, and cultural differences; fairness and equity; and environmental concerns. These opportunities are lost where stakeholders are not sufficiently trained or motivated to engage in drought planning. [PLACEHOLDER_DISCUSSION OF WHAT PLANNING ENTAILS AND ITS LIMITATIONS IF NOT IMPLEMENTED (AND A DISCUSSION OF WHAT RISK MANAGEMENT IS ???)] The second category of needs focuses on providing easily understood infonnation for use in drought-related planning, impact-reduction, and training and technical assistance programs, . 7