Overview
The Alabama Drought Planning and Response Act became law on April 9, 2014. The Act formally establishes state government’s role in planning, monitoring, and responding to severely dry conditions.
The Alabama Drought Assessment and Planning Team (ADAPT) advises the Governor and OWR about state activities related to droughts with information developed by the Monitoring and Impact Group (MIG) that collects and analyzes stream-flow levels, rainfall, soil moisture and other drought-related data and impacts. The ADAPT is comprised of representatives from various state and federal agencies and gubernatorial appointees.
Alabama Drought Assessment and Planning Team (ADAPT)
The purpose of the ADAPT is to provide guidance and make recommendations on drought-related matters to the Governor and the ADECA Office of Water Resources (OWR), as necessary, and to coordinate intergovernmental drought response, management, and implementation of all drought related activities. It works in coordination with input from its technical subcommittee, the Monitoring and Impact Group (MIG).
ADAPT is composed of the following members:
| Name and Title | Agency |
|---|---|
| Tom Littlepage OWR Acting Division Chief ADAPT Chairman | ADECA Office of Water Resources |
| Jeff Smitherman Director | Alabama Emergency Management Agency |
| Lance LeFleur Director | Alabama Dept of Environmental Management |
| Major General Sheryl E. Gordon Adjutant General | Alabama Army National Guard |
| The Honorable Rick Pate Commissioner | Alabama Dept of Agriculture and Industries |
| Christopher M. Blankenship Commissioner | Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources |
| Rick Oates State Forester | Alabama Forestry Commission |
| Dr. Berry H. "Nick" Tew, Jr. State Geologist | Geological Survey of Alabama |
| Dr. John R. Christy State Climatologist | Alabama Office of the State Climatologist |
| Alan Peeples MIG Chairman | ADAPT Monitoring and Impact Group (MIG) |
| Lisa Harris Executive Director | Choctawhatchee, Pea, and Yellow Rivers Watershed Management Authority |
| Dr. William "Bill" Puckett Executive Director | Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee (SWCC) |
| Ben Malone State Conservationist | USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Alabama |
| Matthew Durdin ALFA | Governor Appointee |
| Chris Isaacson Alabama Forestry Association | Governor Appointee |
| Roy McAuley Alabama Pulp & Paper Council and Manufacture Alabama | Governor Appointee |
Monitoring and Impact Group (MIG)
The MIG, the technical subcommittee of ADAPT, is responsible for monitoring all available climate and hydrological data and forecasts (i.e. rainfall data, stream flows, reservoir storage levels, groundwater levels, soil moisture readings, etc.) and analyzing the information in order to assess both the current level of drought conditions and the impacts from those conditions. The information and assessment is then used in recommending changes to OWR for the Alabama Drought Declaration.
The MIG consists of agency representatives, reservoir operators, public water system managers, water use sector representatives and other stakeholders. The chairman of this group is appointed by the OWR Division Chief.
The current Chairman is Mr. Alan Peeples with the Alabama Power Company.
