Drought forum planned for Aug. 16 in Havre

Havre Daily News staff

A series of forums on the drought situation in the state will be held with a Havre forum slated for 1 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, at Havre City Hall.

Similar forums will be held in Billings, Bozeman and Missoula.

The forums will allow Montana citizens to weigh in on the 2016 update of the Montana Drought Response Plan, said Lt. Gov,. Mike Cooney, who chairs the Governor’s Drought and Water Supply Advisory Committee,

Cooney said the committee wants input from local communities on steps the state can take to help them prepare for and respond to drought.

Cooney and the committee are in the process of updating the state’s current Drought Response Plan. 

Drought impacts can be reduced by proactive planning, early warning and coordinated response, Cooney said.  Communities with clear, locally-driven response plans for times of low stream flow and soil moisture conditions have shown an ability to adapt to drought impacts and economic hardship.