Obama Calls for Proactive Drought Strategy.  What Would That Look like?
by Lonnie Shekhtman
March 21, 2016 – While on his 3-day trip to Cuba, President Obama released an action plan on Monday to help the federal government proactively deal with drought. It affects 1/8 of the continental US population, mostly in the West.
In a memorandum and accompanying action plan, Mr. Obama’s administration outlined his goals for the federal government to help the country prevent and cope with drought, which scientists expect will worsen with changing climate conditions.
The president calls for better data collection and sharing among federal, regional, state, tribal, and local authorities; better communication of drought’s risk, particularly to critical infrastructure; and government support of research and innovation in areas of water conservation and efficiency. 
“Extreme, widespread drought challenges the security of the US food supply and the integrity of critical infrastructure, causes extensive economic impacts, and increases energy costs,” the Obama administration said in its action plan.  “In the context of a changing climate, the likelihood of increased frequency, duration, and intensity of droughts will further necessitate this range of concerted action,” the administration said.  
About 12.5% of the continental US was experiencing drought as of mid-March, said Alice Hill, a key Obama aide on this issue.  California is in its 5th year of drought, but it recently experienced a bit of a break, as days of relentless rain storms there were hailed as a “miracle,” for replenishing reservoirs and snowpack to levels not seen in years.
"It's definitely a step in the right direction, but it's not a panacea.  We're not saved," warned Shane Hunt, a spokesman with the federal Bureau of Reclamation, in the Los Angeles Times.  The Bureau oversees Lake Shasta, California's largest reservoir.  "We dug a pretty big hole in a lot of spots."
Federal agencies last year pledged $110 million in drought aid “to support workers, farmers and rural communities suffering from drought, and to combat wildfires,” said the administration.  This is on top of the $190 million federal agencies have invested to support drought-stricken communities in 2015 and the $1.2 billion the US Department of Agriculture was expected to distribute last year to livestock producers facing business losses because of the drought.
 www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2016/0321/Obama-calls-for-proactive-drought-strategy.-What-would-that-look-like