Case Study of Tribal Drought Planning: The Hualapai Tribe

Abstract

Several American Indian Tribes are currently leading the way in developing drought mitigation and response plans. These tribes are undertaking the process of identifying and implementing actions that will help them better prepare for and respond to future drought events. The Hualapai Tribe in Arizona is one such group that has recently completed a drought plan with assistance provided through the Bureau of Reclamation’s States Emergency Drought Program. The National Drought Mitigation Center has helped provide technical assistance in developing the Hualapai Tribe’s plan and recently conducted interviews with tribal representatives to better understand lessons learned during the planning process. The efforts of the Hualapai Tribe provide an important case study for the development of similar plans for other tribal entities.