Thursday December 21, 2006
President Bush Signs Bill to Create Early Drought Warning System

Source: U.S. President George W. Bush

On December 21, 2006 President Bush signed into law H.R. 5136, the "National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006," requiring the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish a National Integrated Drought Information System to provide a drought early warning system.

In order to establish the drought information system the bill authorizes $81 million over a five year period. During the current fiscal year, $11 million dollars is authorized.

The bill was sponsored by Reps. Ralph Hall (Texas) and Mark Udall (Colo.), with a similar Senate bill sponsored by Sens. Ben Nelson (Neb.) and Pete Domenici (N.M.).

The Western Governors’ Association worked with both the sponsors and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to draft the bill. According to a press release from the Western Governors’ Association, “ NIDIS will provide water users across the board—farmers, ranchers, utilities, tribes, land managers, business owners, recreationalists, wildlife managers, and decision-makers at all levels of government—with the ability to assess their drought risk in real time and before the onset of drought. All of these affected interests will be able to make more informed decisions to mitigate a drought’s impacts.”

To read the WGA press release click here 

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