Drought Montana

Resources

There are countless online resources related to drought. However, they tend to be scattered across disparate reaches of the internet: a compilation of federal support programs in one corner, a treasure trove of monitoring data over in another, an exemplary local drought management plan tucked in still another. If you don't know exactly what you're looking for, you're sure to miss out on valuable information and guidance. This page aspires to unite drought resources from a wide spectrum of trusted sources in one place.

Montana

  • Montana Climate Office - The Climate Office hosts the Drought Dashboard, Montana Mesonet, and the Seasonal Climate Outlook. These tools record current climate trends in precipitations, temperature, soils conditions and more.
  • MSU Extension - Montana-specific drought resources for homeowners and producers including gardening, disaster planning, mental health, and cropland drought information.

National

  • National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) - The Center works to build drought resilience through its research on the science of drought monitoring and the practice of drought planning. It provides research publications, educational materials, and other information about drought.
  • Drought.Gov – NIDIS - NIDIS is a multi-agency partnership that coordinates drought monitoring, forecasting, planning, and information at national, state, and local levels. Users can access multiple data sources for drought and drought impacts, as well as learn about funding opportunities and monthly Drought & Climate Outlook Webinars.
  • National Center for Environmental Information – Drought - NCEI provides environmental data and tools for decision-makers impacted by weather and climate, including extensive weather and climate data, measurement, and modeling.

Montana Drought Impacts Reporter - The Montana Drought Impacts Reporter allows users to view on-the-ground reports of drought impacts and submit their own observations. Information is incorporated into the weekly drought monitoring process, and it helps inform responses in times of drought.

Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Reporting Tool - HABs are an overgrowth of cyanobacteria that can produce toxins posing serious health risks to humans and animals. Drought conditions like high temperatures and low water levels can promote growth cyanobacteria growth on lakes and reservoirs. DEQ has a tool for members of the public to report and track HABs.

Montana Watershed Coordination Council (MWCC) - MWCC is a statewide nonprofit organization whose mission is to unite and support Montana’s community-based conservation networks to promote healthy and productive watersheds. Their website contains a wealth of resources for new and established watershed groups and partners, including a directory of watershed organizations and a searchable watershed resource library.

Montana Association of Conservation Districts (MACD) - MACD is a nonprofit organization representing and supporting Montana’s conservation districts through advocacy, programs, and partnership building. Montana’s 58 conservation districts are tasked with administering stream (310) permitting, and many are involved in watershed planning.

Drought Planning Resources 

  • Drought Preparedness Planning: Building Institutional Capacity (PDF), by Wilhite and others (2005) offers a thorough breakdown of the typical 10-Step drought planning process with lessons and guidance for all kinds of drought planning.
  • Planning and Drought (PDF), published through a partnership between the American Planning Association, NDMC, and NIDIS, provides basic drought information for planners and seven detailed case studies of drought planning at different scales (cities, tribes, counties, states).
Resources for Communities
Farm and Ranch Planning

Local and Regional Drought Management Plans

Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART Drought Response Program - The BOR’s Drought Response Program supports a proactive approach to drought by providing assistance to water managers to develop and update comprehensive drought plans and implement projects that will build long-term resiliency to drought.

Montana Farm Service Agency Office Directory - The Montana Farm Service Agency (FSA) Office assists Montana farmers and ranchers in securing the greatest possible benefit from programs administered by FSA such as farm loans, commodity price support, disaster relief, conservation, and other available resources.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Drought Assistance Portal - The USDA offers a suite of recovery, risk management, and resilience-building programs for agricultural operations impacted by drought.

Montana DNRC Grant & Loan Programs - The DNRC-administered Grant and Loan Programs include several types of grants that fund the conservation, management, development and preservation of Montana's renewable resources. The Reclamation and Development Grant Program offers funding for drought plans and projects under crucial state need. Other planning and project funding is available through the Renewable Resource Grant Program, the Watershed Management Grant Program, and Irrigation Development Grants.

Montana Farm & Ranch Stress Assistance Network (MFRSAN) -  MFRSAN provides Montana agricultural producers with access to free, confidential counseling services, as well as grants for bringing mental health speakers, workshops, and new or expanded trainings focused on emotional, psychological, and social well-being to rural Montana.

Montana FWP Future Fisheries Grant Program - FWP's Future Fisheries Improvement Program funds projects that restore rivers, streams, and lakes to improve and restore Montana's wild fish habitats.