Drought: Mitigation
Drought is likely to become a greater threat in areas of the Barren River Area where the demands placed on water supplies are increasing. Hence, drought mitigation efforts will be increasingly important. Drought mitigation strategies fall into two categories: crisis management strategies and risk management strategies. Crisis management strategies include those actions taken upon recognition that adverse impacts of drought are imminent or are already occurring. Risk management strategies involve restructuring the ways in which people think about and use water as a resource. They are designed to minimize the effects of drought when it occurs. Kentucky has programs in place that are designed to address the impacts of drought. The Kentucky Division of Water developed a model Water Shortage Response Plan as a guide for communities and water suppliers. The plan calls for local officials to form a Water Shortage Management Task Force to be responsible for making and implementing decisions relating to water supply. It also identifies a progression of warning phases and appropriate water conservation measures to implement as drought conditions intensify. In extraordinary cases, these measures include water rationing. The plan represents a structured approach to managing potential water supply crises due to drought. Each county in Kentucky is required to develop a Water Supply Plan. These plans have been completed by the area development districts across the state. The content of each plan includes evaluations of the adequacy of current water supplies for agricultural and municipal uses, along with forecasts of future demands for water. Counties are then required to identify alternative water sources that may be required to meet future needs. These plans develop effective risk management strategies that are particularly useful for municipalities. Agricultural water users in the Barren River Area are relying increasingly on treated water from municipal suppliers. This is due in part to water supply and quality problems commonly associated with karst aquifers. Point and non-point source pollution at the surface can quickly reach groundwater supplies, making karst aquifers vulnerable to rapid changes in water quality. Reliance on municipal water supplies, however, could become problematic in times of drought since agricultural users may be the first to be targeted by water rationing or increased water rates designed to curtail use of a scarce resource. Farmers, particularly those with significant investments in livestock, should develop plans for obtaining water from alternative sources. One approach is to transport and store water for livestock. Another approach is to explore the feasibility of developing water sources on site. Two options are available to most farmers. The first is to construct ponds, which are sometimes unreliable in a karst region; the second is to develop and maintain environmentally safe wells. In addition to planning for alternative water sources, agricultural users should adopt farming practices that are less vulnerable to drought. These include a variety of techniques for cultivation, planting, and controlling weeds and diseases. Farmers should consider planting alternative crops that are less sensitive to drought conditions or high-value crops, such vegetables and fruit, that can be irrigated. Most importantly, farmers in the Barren River Area should invest in crop insurance. If drought conditions worsen to the point of water rationing by municipal water suppliers, it is not likely that other mitigation strategies identified above will be adequate to avoid significant financial loss. Homeowners should be concerned about both the loss of trees, shrubs, and grass and structural damage to foundations. Drip irrigation systems provide an efficient means of delivering water to plants. Applying mulch around the foundation of your house can help hold in soil moisture and reduce the possibility of cracks caused by shrinking soil. This is a particular concern in areas where soils include a high clay content.
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