Survey for Alaska Drought Discussion

In 2019, parts of Alaska experienced extreme drought. Though wet weather has returned, there is a need to better understand drought and its impacts in all of Alaska to better prepare for future dry conditions. On the heels of a successful workshop in Juneau (see recordings and materials here), focused on drought in Southeast Alaska, we are planning one or two drought workshop(s) focused on mainland Alaska. The goal of the workshop(s) is to have participants get a better sense of drought, impacts of drought and interconnections in Alaska to help refine drought thresholds. Also at the workshop(s) information and resources will be shared to raise awareness about drought and lead to changes in response to dry conditions.

So that this workshop(s) serves Alaska, we would like to hear from you. Please take this survey to help us with meeting logistics and gather some information from you about drought in Alaska. Your time providing us information is appreciated. A summary of survey responses will be sent out to all whom respond with an email address.

There are 19 questions and the majority are only checking a box that applies and five are fill in the blank.

Sincerely,

Alaska Drought Planning Committee: University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy, National Integrated Drought Information System, National Weather Service, Western Regional Climate Center, University of Nevada-Reno, Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center, Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, USDA Northwest Climate Hub

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* 1. Please tell us your:

Name

Organization

Email Address

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* 2. With which sector(s) do you primarily work? Check all that apply.

Fisheries

Water supply / quality

Energy

Recreation and tourism

Wildfire

Forestry and wildlife (other than fisheries or wildfire)

Society and public health

Transportation / navigation

Agriculture

Weather / climate

Research / university / academia

Land managers

Alaskan Native organization

Communications

Other (please specify)

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* 3. Recognizing that travel is expensive and resources are limited, would you be able to travel to an in-person meeting in Alaska?

Yes

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* 4. Rank potential locations for an in-person meeting (Best, Ok, Not suitable for me, multiple locations can be same category if they are all suitable for an individual):

	Best	OK	Not suitable for me
Anchorage	Anchorage Best	Anchorage OK	Anchorage Not suitable for me
Fairbanks	Fairbanks Best	Fairbanks OK	Fairbanks Not suitable for me

Other Location (please specify)

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* 5. A virtual meeting option will be available (via webinar), which best suits your plans?

I plan on attending only the in-person meeting.

I plan on attending only the virtual meeting.

I plan on attending portions of the in-person and virtual meeting.

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* 6. Is there a preferred time of year in 2020 to conduct an in-person meeting?

	Best	OK	Not Available
February	February Best	February OK	February Not Available
March	March Best	March OK	March Not Available
April	April Best	April OK	April Not Available
May	May Best	May OK	May Not Available
June	June Best	June OK	June Not Available
July	July Best	July OK	July Not Available
August	August Best	August OK	August Not Available
September	September Best	September OK	September Not Available
October	October Best	October OK	October Not Available
November	November Best	November OK	November Not Available
December	December Best	December OK	December Not Available

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* 7. Is there an existing meeting we could propose a session or dovetail with?

Alaska Forum on the Environment (Anchorage, February 2021)

Alaska Tribal Conference on Environmental Management (Anchorage, November 2020)

Other (please specify)

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* 8. Do you prefer one workshop or two workshops broken out by NWS service area (Anchorage-blue & Fairbanks-red)? NWS-Juneau had a workshop in May 2018.

One workshop

Two workshops

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* 9. Which is your preference if only one workshop is offered:

One day workshop - Day 1: climate information

Two day workshop - Day 1: climate information, Day 1 & 2: information from a few different sectors & communities, Day 2: information on adaptation strategies (¼-½ day)

Three day workshop - Day 1: climate information, Day 2: information from many different sectors & communities, Day 3 information on adaptation strategies (½-¾ day)

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* 10. Which is your preference if two workshops are offered, one in each NWS region (Anchorage & Fairbanks regions):

One day workshop - Day 1: climate information

Two day workshop - Day 1: climate information, information from a few different sectors & communities, Day 2: information on adaptation strategies

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* 11. What is your role with regard to making drought-related management decisions? Please check one.

I am involved in making and/or implementing decisions related to drought management.

I provide advice or information to individuals making drought management decisions.

Both - I provide advice and I make decisions about drought management.

Neither - I do not make drought management decisions or provide advice.

Other (please specify)

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* 12. For what types of decisions is drought monitoring information important to you?

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* 13. In your region and/or related to your expertise, which metrics do you think are relevant to drought within Alaska?

	Not familiar with	Not important	Somewhat important	Very important
Precipitation	Precipitation Not familiar with	Precipitation Not important	Precipitation Somewhat important	Precipitation Very important
Standard precipitation index	Standard precipitation index Not familiar with	Standard precipitation index Not important	Standard precipitation index Somewhat important	Standard precipitation index Very important
Snow water equivalent	Snow water equivalent Not familiar with	Snow water equivalent Not important	Snow water equivalent Somewhat important	Snow water equivalent Very important
Snow depth	Snow depth Not familiar with	Snow depth Not important	Snow depth Somewhat important	Snow depth Very important
Soil moisture	Soil moisture Not familiar with	Soil moisture Not important	Soil moisture Somewhat important	Soil moisture Very important
Shallow groundwater	Shallow groundwater Not familiar with	Shallow groundwater Not important	Shallow groundwater Somewhat important	Shallow groundwater Very important
Stream flow	Stream flow Not familiar with	Stream flow Not important	Stream flow Somewhat important	Stream flow Very important
Reservoir levels	Reservoir levels Not familiar with	Reservoir levels Not important	Reservoir levels Somewhat important	Reservoir levels Very important
Temperature	Temperature Not familiar with	Temperature Not important	Temperature Somewhat important	Temperature Very important
Relative humidity	Relative humidity Not familiar with	Relative humidity Not important	Relative humidity Somewhat important	Relative humidity Very important

Other (please specify)

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* 14. Which tools and sources of information do you consult with when looking to monitor current drought conditions?

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* 15. What drought impacts have you observed with past droughts and/or dry periods? (multiple clicks possible)

Low stream flows, fish die-offs

Food insecurity

Lower berry production / availability

Changes to hunting sites / timing

No or limited hydroelectric power

Dying trees or vegetation

More wildlife in populated areas they usually avoid

Poor air-quality due to smoke

More wildland fires

Less snowpack, less skiing or winter sport activities

Changes in recreation

Glaciers melting

Less fungal/mold/algae issues on crops or vegetation

Needing to water plants or crops more than usual

Effects to water quality / drinking water supply / well depth

Stress (people)

Transportation issues

Impacts to agriculture / farming / gardening

Other (please specify)

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* 16. Do you have data relevant to drought that you are willing to share?

Yes

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* 17. If you do have data that you are willing to share, please describe it.

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* 18. What are the limitations to sharing? (multiple clicks possible)

Not certain who wants it

Data isn’t in an electronic form

Proprietary or sensitive information

Too much data to share (large data files)

No limitations already sharing it here (written responses)

Other (please specify)

Survey for Alaska Drought Discussion

Question Title

* 1. Please tell us your:

Question Title

* 2. With which sector(s) do you primarily work? Check all that apply.

Question Title

* 3. Recognizing that travel is expensive and resources are limited, would you be able to travel to an in-person meeting in Alaska?

Question Title

* 4. Rank potential locations for an in-person meeting (Best, Ok, Not suitable for me, multiple locations can be same category if they are all suitable for an individual):

Question Title

* 5. A virtual meeting option will be available (via webinar), which best suits your plans?

Question Title

* 6. Is there a preferred time of year in 2020 to conduct an in-person meeting?

Question Title

* 7. Is there an existing meeting we could propose a session or dovetail with?

Question Title

* 8. Do you prefer one workshop or two workshops broken out by NWS service area (Anchorage-blue & Fairbanks-red)? NWS-Juneau had a workshop in May 2018.

Question Title

* 9. Which is your preference if only one workshop is offered:

Question Title

* 10. Which is your preference if two workshops are offered, one in each NWS region (Anchorage & Fairbanks regions):

Question Title

* 11. What is your role with regard to making drought-related management decisions? Please check one.

Question Title

* 12. For what types of decisions is drought monitoring information important to you?

Question Title

* 13. In your region and/or related to your expertise, which metrics do you think are relevant to drought within Alaska?

Question Title

* 14. Which tools and sources of information do you consult with when looking to monitor current drought conditions?

Question Title

* 15. What drought impacts have you observed with past droughts and/or dry periods? (multiple clicks possible)

Question Title

* 16. Do you have data relevant to drought that you are willing to share?

Question Title

* 17. If you do have data that you are willing to share, please describe it.

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* 18. What are the limitations to sharing? (multiple clicks possible)

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* 19. Other general feedback or information that you’d like to share.