Hydrologic Drought Response Planning

Hydrologic Drought Response Planning – Community Based Adaptation and Action

What is Drought?

Drought conditions occur when there are periods of abnormally dry weather that deplete water resources required for human and environmental needs. There are four main types of droughts: meteorological, agricultural, hydrologic, and socio-economic drought.  

Meteorological drought is a precipitation deficit. When dry conditions continue soil moisture becomes depleted and droughts progress into agricultural drought. Further dry conditions develop into hydrologic droughts. Hydrologic drought is when water supply levels (lakes, rivers, streams, reservoirs, and groundwater) are lowered by long precipitation deficits. Hydrologic drought can affect access to drinking water for communities. Socio-economic drought occurs when droughts are so severe that there are broad economic consequences from water shortages. 

Hydrologic Drought Response Planning

With funding from Water Security Agency (WSA), the Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds continues to support communities at high risk of hydrologic drought and vulnerability to prolonged surface and groundwater supply shortages.

Hydrologic drought occurs when extended precipitation deficits reduce water levels in lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater systems, threatening municipal water supplies.

SAW’s Drought Response Planning process helps strengthen municipal preparedness by establishing clear drought indicators thresholds, defining leadership roles and operational responsibilities, identifying community-specific drought indicators, and outlining community adaptation and mitigation actions. Structured plans are developed with the community and provincial organizations to provide actionable frameworks that enable communities to respond systematically rather than reactively.

Plans have been completed for the Town of Cabri, Town of Craik, Town of Herbert, Town of Hudson Bay, Village of Vanguard, Weyburn and Estevan.

For 2026-2027 plans will be developed with Meadow Lake, Spruce Lake, Assiniboia, Avonlea, Gravelbourg and Lafleche.

If your community is interested in participating in potential future drought preparedness planning, please contact us at info@saskwatersheds.ca or 306-541-9902.