The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Northwest Climate Hub and National Drought Mitigation Center are hosting a Northwest Drought Workshop via three virtual sessions on July 28, 2020 and July 30, 2020. This workshop is for aimed at USDA agency staff (NRCS, FSA, RD, RMA, FS, etc.) and Federal Partner’s including soil and water conservation districts, watershed councils, tribes, university extension, and other state and federal agencies.

The objectives of these workshops are to get a better sense of drought and how it’s monitored, impacts of drought and interconnections in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, as well as share information and resources to raise awareness about drought and lead to changes in response to dry conditions in the region.

Intended outcomes include: increasing drought impact reporting; remaining informed on drought status; developing a summary of information shared for adapting to drought conditions; and identifying participant-driven next steps and needs.

The first session will be held on July 28 from 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. PST.

Participants will:

  • Learn about the U.S. Drought Monitor, including how it is made each week
  • Hear from local experts about drought in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho
  • Learn how to report drought impacts
  • Discuss how drought affects USDA programs

The second session will be held on July 30 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. PST. There will be an east-side focused session with a panel discussion and peer-to-peer learning about drought adaptation practices for lands east of the Cascades (eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Idaho). Panelists and peer-to-peer learning will include agriculture, forestry, and rangelands.

The third session will be held on July 30 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. PST. There will be a west-side focused session with a panel discussion and peer-to-peer learning about drought adaptation practices for lands west of the Cascades (western Oregon and western Washington). Panelists and peer-to-peer learning will include agriculture, forestry, and rangelands.

Participants may register for as many of the workshops as they would like, however, attendance is limited, so participants are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible to secure a spot. Click here to register.

Contributed by: Holly Prendeville | USDA Forest Service