Alabama Drought Management Plan

Overview

The purpose of the Alabama Drought Management Plan is to provide information and procedural details associated with Alabama’s drought planning and response activities. The 2024 revision of the Plan is now available. The revision process has been underway for almost two years and has involved the periodic review and coordination with a wide range of stakeholders and organizations, including the Alabama Water Resources Commission (AWRC), the Alabama Drought Assessment and Planning Team (ADAPT), and the Alabama Monitoring and Impacts Group (MIG).

The revision includes both changes to several existing sections as well as the addition of a new section. Major areas of change include:

  • Updated Acronym List
  • Updated meeting procedures to comply with Open Meetings Act
  • Updated ACT Master Water Control Manual to most recent version (April of 2022)
  • Revised PowerSouth System Management, Overview of Facilities
  • Revised Red Flag Warning criteria
  • Added additional information weather links
  • Updated monitoring information for drought conditions
  • Added a section for Flash Drought
  • Updated Attachment 7 map to reflect ACF Master Water Control Manual update
  • Defined MIG Membership
  • Expanded MIG meeting procedures

There is no way to prevent a drought from occurring, however, the effects of a drought can be reduced significantly through public awareness and local planning activities. That is why Alabama encourages proactive local drought planning efforts. This involves a thorough assessment by water using entities or organizations that includes a review of water sources and alternatives, water use and sustainability options. Local planning should include contingency plans, such as defining specific action levels, appropriate water conservation measures, or designating alternative water sources. Specific requirements for local Drought Conservation Plans can found in OWR regulation 305-7-13-.07 of the Alabama Administrative Code.

Please contact us with any comments or suggestions on the Alabama Drought Management Plan or if you have specific drought-related impacts to report.

Alabama Drought Management Plan