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Dealing with Drought

Science, Impacts and Strategies to Save Water
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (275 ratings)
5,097 students
Created by National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF)
English
English

By the end of this course, you will understand the definitions of drought, and how drought impacts society and the environment.
You will understand historical, current and projected drought trends in the United States.
You will have access to practical tips and tools to help you save water by both changing behavior and creating a more water-efficient home and landscape.

Requirements

  • All you need is an interest in drought!

Description

Droughts are among the most expensive natural disasters, harming agriculture, the economy and human health, and creating ideal conditions for wildfires. The conditions that the western United States is experiencing today may be a taste of the "new normal." By the end of this century, scientists expect droughts to intensify and increase in length and frequency in many regions of the United States. The intensified drought conditions projected under climate change will present challenges for the management of reservoirs, aquifers and other water infrastructure.

In this course, you will learn about drought and its impacts on society and the environment, while gaining practical tips and tools to help you and your family save water. Through videos, quizzes and activities with tips and links to trusted resources, you will learn more about:

  • different types of drought;
  • historical, current and projected drought trends for the United States;
  • the health, financial, social and environmental impacts of drought;
  • how to reduce water use by both changing behavior and creating a more water-efficient home and landscape.

The course uses the current California drought as a case study throughout and draws on expertise and interviews from trusted sources, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense program, the National Drought Mitigation Center, the U.S. Forest Service, NASA, NOAA and others.

Who this course is for:

  • This course is for anyone interested in learning more about drought and its impacts in the United States.

Course content

6 sections • 30 lectures • 2h 6m total length

  • Introduction
    01:26
  • Save Water: Five Things You Can Do Right Now
    01:48
  • Dive Deeper: Get to Know WaterSense
    04:10

Instructor

National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF)
  • 4.7 Instructor Rating
  • 846 Reviews
  • 10,313 Students
  • 2 Courses

The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) is the nation's leading organization in lifelong environmental learning, connecting people to knowledge they use to improve the quality of their lives and the health of the planet. This is achieved by providing knowledge to trusted professionals and other leaders who, with their credibility, amplify messages to national audiences to solve environmental problems. Our vision is that “By 2022, 300 million Americans will actively use environmental knowledge to ensure the well-being of the earth and its people."

NEEF partners with non-profit organizations, businesses, schools and federal agencies that are trusted by the U.S. public and can—through joint ventures with NEEF—credibly convey environmental knowledge to live by. NEEF's programs focus on the four key areas that are priorities for the American public—Weather and Climate, Health, Public Lands, Education.