Drought Resilience Partnership to include soil moisture monitoring network

The Obama Administration has announced the formation of an interagency partnership to better address the needs of communities facing droughts, a NOAA press release stated.

The National Drought Resilience Partnership will grant easier access of federal drought resources to communities, businesses and agricultural professionals. Part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, the partnership will incorporate drought response strategies with monitoring and forecast information.

The partnership will also develop a set of web-based tools including a national soil moisture monitoring network and drought outlook forums. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the partnership is a continuation of Obama Administration aid efforts made in response to severe droughts in 2012.

Climate change is widely believed to be responsible for a higher frequency of extreme weather events such as droughts, floods and wildfires.