California is currently in the midst of an unprecedented drought, and it is expected to continue under current conditions. To help understand, monitor, respond, and recover from both current and future drought conditions, the California Climate Hub has compiled a list of resources that may be of use.
NOTE: If you know of any drought resources relevant to California’s natural and working lands that are not on this list, please contact the California Climate Hub Science Communication Specialist, Amelia Oxarart.
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Drought Resources & Publications
Run by USGS and the California Water Science Center, this website provides links to surface water and groundwater monitoring networks and information on California's reservoir conditions.
This is a collection of drought related factsheets and other document types (newsletters, reports, meetings, presentations, etc.).
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Hosted by the California Climate Hub, this page provides the most up to date version of the California Drought Monitor map, automatically updated weekly.
Run by the National Drought Mitigation Center, USDA, and NOAA, this page includes maps and summaries of current drought conditions as well as future outlooks throughout the United States.
Run by the USGS, this tool shows maps of vegetation-related drought conditions (e.g., Vegetation Drought Response Index).
Run by USDA NRCS, this tool provides a weekly report on snowpack, precipitation, temperature, and drought conditions for the US.
Overview of Weather Water Land Sites (OWWLS)
Run by the National Drought Mitigation Center and in coordination with the USDA Northwest and Southwest Climate Hubs, this tool provides geographical information on weather stations, stream gauges, ground water monitoring stations, and reservoirs across much of the west, including Caliofornia.
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Created by NOAA NIDIS, this fact sheet provides information on understanding what causes drought, explains different types and scales of drought, and the many ways drought impacts can be seen on the ground.
California Data Exchange Center - Reservoir Reports
Run by the California Department of Water Resources Data Exchange Center, this page is host to reports and summaries on daily reservoir storage, scheduled releases, and the latest real-time reservoir storage data.
USDA CA Climate Hub Factsheet on Drought and Forested Lands
Updated in 2022, this is part of a drought factsheet series originally put together by the USDA CA Climate Hub during the 2012-2016 drought. This factsheet in particular covers how the drought has impacted forest land in California, and contains resources that are still pertinent to forest land owners and managers.
USDA CA Climate Hub Factsheet on Drought and Rangelands
This is part of a drought factsheet series put together by the USDA CA Climate Hub during the 2012-2016 drought. This factsheet in particular covers how the drought has impacted rangelands in California, and contains resources that are still pertinent to rangeland owners and managers.
USDA CA Climate Hub Factsheet on Drought and California Crops
This is part of a drought factsheet series put together by the USDA CA Climate Hub during the 2012-2016 drought. This fact sheet in particular covers how the drought has impacted crops in California and how it may continue to impact crops in the future. It also contains resources are still relevant for farmers and ranchers in California.
USDA CA Climate Hub Factsheet on What to do When Drought Ends
This is part of a drought factsheet series put together by the USDA CA Climate Hub during the 2012-2016 drought. This fact sheet in particular covers 'what to do when the drought ends', and what that means for the state's natural and working lands going forward.
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Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)
This program is run by the USDA Farm Service Agency and provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters including qualifying drought (includes native grass for grazing).
This program is run by the USDA Farm Service Agency and offers payments to eligible producers for livestock death losses in excess of normal mortality due to adverse weather. Drought is not an eligible adverse weather event, except when associated with anthrax, a condition that occurs because of drought and directly results in the death of eligible livestock.This program is run by the USDA Farm Service Agency and provides assistance to eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers for qualifying tree, shrub and vine losses due to natural disasters including excessive wind and qualifying drought.
Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm Raised Fish Program
This program is run by the USDA Farm Service Agency and provides emergency relief for losses due to feed or water shortages, disease, adverse weather, or other conditions, which are not adequately addressed by other disaster programs.
This program is run by the USDA Farm Service Agency and provides emergency loans to help producers recover from production and physical losses due to drought, flooding, or other natural disasters.
Emergency Conservation Program
This program is run by the USDA Farm Service Agency and provides emergency funding and technical assistance for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland and conservation structures damaged by natural disasters and implement emergency water conservation measures in periods of severe drought.