Improving the federal response to western drought: five areas for reform

This report begins with a spotlight on the latest western drought in the United States, followed by a roadmap of the various federal roles that touch on western water management. It then identifies a suite of modest, pragmatic federal actions that can help western states states prepare for droughts and water scarcity and better manage drought emergencies when they do occur. These recommendations are based on analysis of public information and interviews with more than 40 individuals at the federal, state, and local levels.