The Role of Place-Based, Sustained Networks for Resilient Drought Management

Managers in the U.S. have been adapting urban water systems to drought for many years, implementing a combination of supply, demand and governance mechanisms to cope with climate and water variability and (often) increasing population. First, we examine drought management in 19 cities across the U.S., including three in-depth case studies, to identify how the dynamics of vulnerability might play out in the context of adaptation success. Data from drought management show that adaptation to climate variability can shift vulnerability in unexpected ways. Second, we show that networks and partnerships must be constructed in a way that anticipates the dynamic nature of the consequences of managing weather and climate extremes. To build resilience we suggest that there is a need for greater engagement with various publics on the tradeoffs involved in adaptation action and for improving opportunities for ‘safe experimentation’ in resource management. Regional, place-based knowledge-action networks are foundational to these efforts.