July 2007

Breaking News

Wilhite Presents "Roadmap for Change" to Congress

Dr. Donald A. Wilhite, Director of the National Drought Mitigation Center, will co-present “Managing Drought and Water Scarcity in Vulnerable Environments -- A Roadmap for Change” to Congress on July 18, working with the Geological Society of America, the Congressional Hazards Caucus, and the Hazards Caucus Alliance.

The schedule is:
Senate Briefing - Room 385 Russell, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
House Briefing - Room 2325 Rayburn, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Briefings will be moderated by Dr. Gene Whitney, Assistant Director of Environment, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Speakers and their topics are:

1. "Setting the Stage for Improved Drought Management in the United States"
   Dr. Jack Hess, Executive Director, Geological Society of America
2. "Managing Drought in the United States: A Roadmap for Science and Public Policy"
   Dr. Don Wilhite, Director, National Drought Mitigation Center
3. "Managing Drought at the District Level"
   Mr. David Witter, Director, Environmental Compliance and Water Policy, El Dorado Water District, California

For more information, including the newly released Roadmap document, please visit the Geological Society of America’s web site: http://www.geosociety.org/news/pr/07-30.htm

Wilhite & Hayes Accept New Challenges

In keeping with our emphasis on planning ahead, a smooth leadership transition is underway, with National Drought Mitigation Center Associate Director Dr. Michael J. Hayes poised to become Director as of August 1.On that date, Dr. Donald A. Wilhite, founder and Director of the NDMC, will become Director of the School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where the NDMC is based.
Read more in the summer issue of DroughtScape

NDMC, UN Team Up On Drought Framework

The National Drought Mitigation Center teamed up with the United Nations’ International Secretariat for Disaster Reduction to produce Drought Risk Reduction Framework and Practices: Contributing to the Implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action, unveiled in June in Geneva.
Read more in the summer issue of DroughtScape

Project WET

The National Drought Mitigation Center, together with Nebraska Project WET, University of Nebraska Extension and the Project WET Foundation, will be developing a Discover a Waters of Nebraska KIDS activity booklet.  The goal of the booklet is to inform, educate and stimulate, by getting young people interested in Nebraska's diverse water resources and the challenges of managing them in ways that are good for people and the environment. Experiments, maps and fun exercises aimed at upper elementary and middle school students will highlight Nebraska's climate, hydrology and geography; the past, present and future users of Nebraska's water; and water management challenges and opportunities. The booklet will be an outstanding resource for teachers, resource managers and educators, parents and other community members in communicating the importance of our vital and amazing water resources.  If you would like more information about the project, please contact Meghan Sittler (msittler2@unl.edu, 402-472-2712) or Donna Woudenberg (dwoudenberg2@unl.edu, 402-472-8287).