Iowa researchers advocate for a drought information system, but lack funding

As Iowa progresses into its fourth year of drought, researchers are advocating for an Iowa Drought Information System that would better inform water utilities, industries, jurisdictions and the public about local water conditions.

But the project lacks funding.

The idea for the system spawned from the Iowa Drought Plan published in early 2023. The plan designated a drought coordinating team to set drought statuses — from normal to emergency — for different regions of the state. Local, county and state agencies and governments can use those designations to better prepare communities for drought impacts.

There’s a wealth of drought-related data available, ranging from stream flows to soil moisture measurements to groundwater levels. However, that data currently is scattered across different databases and websites. That makes it difficult for Iowans to fully understand the local conditions and make the most informed decisions, said Tim Hall, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources hydrology resources coordinator.

That’s where the Iowa Drought Information System would come into play.

The free website would be a one-stop shop for Iowans looking to learn more about local drought conditions and impacts. Much like the existing Iowa Flood Information System, which was developed by the University of Iowa-based Iowa Flood Center in 2011, the site would source a variety of data and present it to users via accessible maps and messaging. It may be housed under the UI’s Center for Hydrologic Development.

The system would draw from the existing data sources and monitoring infrastructure. For example, the UI’s expanding network of hydrostations already provides information about soil moisture, soil temperature and groundwater levels. Satellites keep track of vegetation growth and evapotranspiration, or the amount of water evaporating from soil and plants. U.S. Geological Survey stations measure streamflow at about 150 sites across the state.

“If you had one website, you could go to that website could access the most current bits and pieces of that information,” Hall said. “There's a lot of potential advantages to it.”

The centralized database could help groups, like water utilities, create educational materials about drought impacts and potential steps customers could take.

Utilities around the state have struggled with low water quantities as the drought stretches on. The Avoca Treatment Plant System in Western Iowa, for instance, recently reinstated water restrictions after voluntary measures failed to reduce usage. Last fall, Belle Plaine in Benton County suffered from murky water as the drought depleted well water reserves. In Southern Iowa, Osceola considered being the first jurisdiction in the state to use treated wastewater to recharge its water supply.

The Iowa Drought Information System also stands to benefit the state’s agricultural sector, which has been battling drought for the last few years. By better identifying drought conditions and impacts, producers could recoup more money for related losses, said state geologist Keith Schilling.

“The difference between a D2 (or a severe drought designation) and a D3 (or an extreme drought designation) is thousands of dollars per farm or millions of dollars for the state,” he said.

Funding woes

The Iowa Drought Plan identified the development of the Iowa Drought Information System as a next step for the state. But after about two years of advocacy, the project has yet to get off the ground.

It would take an estimated $300,000 upfront to develop the website and incorporate available data. Another $150,000 would be required annually to support data analysis and any future integration of additional features into the site.

“I don't want it to be a static system,” Schilling said. “Are we headed towards drought? Are we coming out of drought? How does it vary across the state? I want somebody involved in the day-to-day operation of looking at this data.”

The team has pitched the project to Iowa legislators, government agencies and private entities. Still, no group has offered funding.

“Everybody thinks it's a good idea. And yet we can't get it launched off the ground,” Schilling said. “We're in a drought, and we really need this system.”

Brittney J. Miller is the Energy & Environment Reporter for The Gazette and a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues.

Comments: (319) 398-8370; brittney.miller@thegazette.com