The University of Montana’s Climate Office will lead a major new effort to strengthen drought resilience across the Northern Great Plains. With support from the National Science Foundation’s R2I2 program, the Montana team will direct a regional incubator spanning Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. The project brings together tribal nations, farmers, researchers, and agencies to improve drought monitoring and response through satellite data, ground sensors, and artificial intelligence.
Officials say the goal is to better forecast water availability while ensuring that rural and tribal communities are central to planning. Partners include NOAA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the USGS, and Tribal Colleges. Along with building resilience against drought, wildfire, and floods, the initiative also emphasizes education and workforce development. Researchers hope it will serve as a national model for protecting agriculture, rural economies, and the environment across the Great Plains.
We are starting off a new water year starting today. Streams may be low this time of the year, as we turn our eyes to the mountains to track snowpack here on Water Wednesday. There’s even rumors that we may get some light mountain snow this weekend.
