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Update Drought Contingency Plans

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Global changes facing USACE can result in increased water demand and higher potential for drought, including areas of the country formerly thought to have ample supplies of water.

In 1981, USACE published ER 1110-2-1941, Drought Contingency Plans (DCP). This regulation provides policy and guidance for the preparation of Drought Contingency Plans in the context of water control management. The plans are intended to respond to public needs with respect to drought, including:

• identification of potential modifications to project regulation to increase capability to respond to a drought (given existing authorities and other constraints);
• planning on a regional, basin-wide and project basis;
• coordination with appropriate stakeholders during droughts; and,
• identification of long-term opportunities to modify project storage allocations.

These Drought Contingency Plans were directed to be prepared for each Corps project or system of projects that have controlled reservoir storage.

The changes that have occurred over the intervening 30 years — especially changes in demographics driving water demand — make it imperative that USACE update its Drought Contingency Plans to support sustainable water management.

This interdisciplinary and interagency Project Development Team created to address this challenge utilizes USACE regional technical specialists and the Water Supply Center of Expertise to build knowledge and capacity within the USACE. The team is assessing existing USACE Drought Contingency Plans, reviewing and updating existing methods and policies to support updated the plans, developing a strategy to update the plans, prioritizing needs, and updating the Drought Contingency Plans according to the priority established.

revised 27 April 2012

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