The Water Action Guide

Managing a Water Crisis - Step Seven
Investigate and Analyze Material

Research and prepare current water level data and information that is pertinent to your locale or region. You can obtain this information from a variety of sources. Go first to your state government Web site, and then try the following resources.

— “Drought Information Center.” National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
(www.drought.noaa.gov)

— “Drought Information.” United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
(drought.fsa.usda.gov/weather.asp)

— “National Water and Climate Center.” National Resources Conservation Services (NRCS).
(www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/wcc.html)

— “U.S. Drought Mitigation Center,” University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
(www.drought.unl.edu/)

— “U.S. Drought Monitor.”
(www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html)

— “Water Watch.” U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). (water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/)

You should be able to download the following information:

After you prepare the water availability data, analyze its impact on your industry to determine if it will impact orders of turfgrass, landscape plants or consumer decisions to landscape or irrigate if water use is severely limited.

Some of what you conclude will be “educated speculation.” You may fare better than you think; conversely, things could always be worse. Be realistic about the data and what it
indicates for the future.

Take a step back, and put the data into context. Prepare fact sheets for the coalition, elected officials and community leaders of influence. Follow your coalition chain-of-command to communicate the information.