United States of America: Presidential Memorandum - Building national capabilities for long-term drought resilience
This memorandum for the heads of executive departments and agencies institutionalizes the National Drought Resilience Partnership (NDRP), which builds upon the National Integrated Drought Information System, an interagency program led by the Department of Commerce.
The memorandum notes that it is the policy of the Federal Government to coordinate and use applicable federal investments, assets, and expertise to promote drought resilience and complement drought preparedness, planning, and implementation efforts of State, regional, tribal, and local institutions, seek partnerships with such institutions and the private sector in order to increase and diversify water resources through the development and deployment of new technologies and improved access to alternative water supplies, and work with State, regional, tribal, and local institutions to support their efforts to maintain and enhance the long-term health and resilience of working lands and ecosystems.
The memorandum defines as drought resilience goals the following: (i) data collection and integration; (ii) communicating drought risk to critical infrastructure; (iii) drought planning and capacity building; (iv) coordination of federal drought activity; (v) market-based approaches for infrastructure and efficiency; and (vi) innovative water use, efficiency, and technology.