Abstract
Droughts lead to several issues that directly affect plants, animals, humans, and the environment. Prolonged droughts can lead to destruction of habitat, and financial loss. Several information systems have been developed in response to drought. The National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) developed the United States Drought Monitor (USDM) as a Drought Early Warning System (DEWS) as a solution to help predict and combat drought on a national scale. The USDM uses regionally collected data in order to provide the public, researchers, resource managers, and policymakers with vital information on water resource availability. However, in areas with a high degree of varying climate, hydrology, and precipitation, such as California, USDM does not provide the level of quantitative detail required for water management decisions related to water diversions. The key agency in the management of California’s water diversions, is the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). Following one of California’s worst droughts, it became apparent that the SWRCB lacked the data and resources to adequately budget California’s diverse surface water system. Currently, drought systems are not incorporating the use of demand data in monitoring water availability and identifying possible droughts. This project analyzed and combined water right demand data with other sources to improve accuracy and predictability of surface water availability. Hydrologic data were collected from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Water Resources (DWR), United States Geological Survey (USGS), Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM), and SWRCB. Precipitation, streamflow, and demand data were used to develop a water availability and drought analysis tool (Drought Tool) in Geographical Information System (GIS). Microsoft Excel was also used to transform large amounts of data spanning the 2018 calendar year. The Drought Tool developed emphasized on smaller scale monitoring and identifying of drought conditions. Water availability can be better analyzed on a local level while taking into consideration water right diverters, runoff, precipitation, and other data readily available. The tool used a Drought Percentile parameter which incorporates data on a monthly time scale in 2018 for the Russian River watershed. The results of the tool were compared with the USDM and other DEWS for differences and similarities in drought identification. The Drought Tool provided a finer level of detail crucial to sensitive watersheds. If scaled up statewide, the Drought Tool can be used to assist in water management decisions for diverters and administrators.