1. Drought and Humanity: A National and Global Challenge for Improving the Prediction, Planning, and Management of Water Scarcity by Stephen G. Wells What are the problems? What are the challenges? Why is the Geological Society of America addressing this issue? Drought and Humanity: A National and Global Challenge for Improving the Prediction, Planning, and Management of Water Scarcity by Stephen G. Wells What are the problems? What are the challenges? Why is the Geological Society of America addressing this issue?

2. What are the problems? 1977 Drought & resulting 24-hour desertification event Southern California, USA 1977 Drought & resulting 24-hour desertification event Southern California, USA

3. Prolonged drought episodes have highlighted an increasing vulnerability of all regions in the U.S. to water shortages Dust Bowl, USA: National Archives: 114 SC 5089 “A nation that destroys its soils, destroys itself.” – President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Feb. 26, 1937.

4. Drought threatens the livelihoods of one billion people worldwide Zinder, Niger - 2005

5. Consumer water needs Sustainable water management practices Infrastructure for treatment and delivery Legal and economic policies and institutions Education and development of “new water culture” Science: monitoring and research Goal Who? National Water Management Components National Water Management Components Ultimate Goal: Water is available where and when it’s needed Ultimate Goal: Water is available where and when it’s needed Flexible and drought- sensitive water management processes Flexible and drought- sensitive water management processes Adequate treatment, delivery, and storage Adequate treatment, delivery, and storage Equitable water rights Realistic pricing Drought mitigation provisions Equitable water rights Realistic pricing Drought mitigation provisions Social preparation for changes in availability and cost of water Social preparation for changes in availability and cost of water Climate change/variability research & modeling. Monitoring of water and environment Climate change/variability research & modeling. Monitoring of water and environment Federal University Federal University All State Local Federal State Local Federal Local State Federal Local State Federal Local State Local State All Shared vision + Collaborative solutions G. Whitney 2006

6. What is role of Geological Society of America? A look to the past: Long-term geologic history to improve predictions, planning, and management.