Southern Fire Exchange

Fire in the Pines Festival
2021-10-09
The Fire in the Pines Festival 2021 will be moving to a virtual platform with in-person activities available! We feel this is the best decision for our community given the current Covid-19 surge. We would not feel safe hosting such a large gathering during this time.

We’ll miss seeing all our longleaf friends this year but hope we can continue to connect virtually! We have lots of fun ways to get involved this year so be on the lookout for more FIP 2021 announcements!

View the event website here.

Land Trust Rally 2021
2021-10-05 - 2021-10-07 | Virtual
Rally is the exciting annual gathering of inspired and passionate land conservation practitioners from around the world who are dedicated to conserving cherished places in our communities. The Land Trust Alliance is proud to be hosting its 34th year of Rally: The National Land Conservation Conference. The event will be held virtually.
More information and registration can be found here.

Private Lands Partners Day
2021-10-05 - 2021-10-06
Hear stories of public-private conservation partnerships from landowners and their partners from across the country as well as challenges and opportunities in a COVID and post-COVID world.

When:
October 5th – 3 pm to 5 pm Eastern
October 6th – 11 am – 1 pm Eastern

Where:
Zoom Webinar Platform, call in number available

Cost:
No Cost Registration Required

Register here.

4th National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy Workshop
2021-10-04 - 2021-10-08 | DoubleTree by Hilton, Asheville – Biltmore, 115 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC, 28803, United States
4th Annual National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy Workshop
Virtual
October 4-7, 2021
Hard Truths, Fantastic Failures and Magnificent Successes of Cross-Boundary, Landscape Level and Community-Wide Implementation
From the conference website:
Since the inception of The National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy , we have learned that there are multiple “hard truths” of living with fire that must be accepted in order to make meaningful progress towards the three national goals of Resilient Landscapes, Fire Adapted Communities and a Safe, Effective, Risk-Based Wildfire Response. We have also experienced multiple opportunities where learning continues around:

Significant wildland fire events that are changing the way future fires are addressed,
“Fantastic Failures” where alignment of ideas and resources did not produce the desired outcomes,
“Magnificent Successes” where collaborative, cross-boundary collaboration, prioritization and investments have led to better wildland fire and landscape scale outcomes,

The 4th National Cohesive Strategy Workshop will center on these themes, and focus sharply understanding how the guiding principles and management options are making meaningful progress towards the three goals, to create a learning environment for attendees.

Central Florida Prescribed Fire Council Annual Meeting
2021-10-01 09:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
2021 Central Florida Prescribed Fire Council Annual Meeting
October 1, 2021
Virtually Hosted by the Southern Fire Exchange
–Registration Coming Soon–
Download agenda
Agenda:
9:00-9:15 Welcome, Logistics, and Sponsor Acknowledgments
(Sammy McGee, Ben Gugliotti, and Brent Saulsbury; CFPFC Officers)
9:15-9:50 Fire Training in the Time of Covid-19
(Zach Prusak, Wildland Fire Training Specialist, Tall Timbers)
9:50-10:30 FFS Experience with Ignition Drone Use on FL State Forests
(Keith Mousel, Withlacoochee Forestry Center Manager, Florida Forest Service)
10:30-10:45 CFPFC T-shirt/Sticker Show and Tell, Sponsor Videos, Prizes, and Coffee Break
(Brent Saulsbury, CFPFC Treasurer)
10:45-11:20 Prescribed Fire in the Wildland/Urban Interface: Success Through Collaboration in Florida’s
Flatwoods
(Dr. Patrick Bohlen, Director of UCF Landscape and Natural Resources Program)
11:20-12:00 Central FL Weather Outlook and Update for Fire Practioners
(Rodney Wynn, Fire Weather Program Manager, National Weather Service)
12:00-12:40 Announcements and Break for Lunch
12:40-1:20 A Florida Burner’s Value to Western Fire Contracting
(David and Brooke Hogrefe, Sandpine Alliance)
1:20–2:20 Florida Forest Service Update and Special Topic: Air Quality as it Relates to Open Burning
Authorizations
(John Saddler and Sean Gallagher, Florida Forest Service)
2:20-2:30 Meeting Wrap-Up and Evaluation Reminder

Partner Webinar: Addressing Disaster Workforce Needs During the COVID-19 Pandemic
2021-09-30 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
For the past 18 months, emergency response personnel have dealt with the strain of the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to the regular onslaught of tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, and other hazards. In this webinar, panelists from the public health and emergency services sectors will discuss approaches for addressing worker burnout, promoting individual-level resilience, and mitigating the impacts of worker shortages as the COVID-19 crisis continues to evolve.
Register here.
Learn About:

How decision makers can provide support to the disaster workforce
Strategies that can promote resilience and reduce worker burnout

Speakers:

Phil Ambrose, Glendale Fire Department
Curry Mayer, Seattle Office of Emergency Management
David Miller, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Sue Ann Sarpy, Principal, Sarpy and Associates, LLC

2021 Georgia Prescribed Fire Council Annual Meeting
2021-09-30 10:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
2021 Georgia PFC Annual Meeting
Thursday – September 30, 2021
The Georgia Prescribed Fire Council invites you to attend the 2021 Statewide Annual Meeting on Thursday, September 30th. This year’s event will be virtual and there is no cost to participate. All are welcome — this meeting has something to offer no matter where you are! Registration coming soon.
Full Agenda Here.

Abbreviated agenda:
10:00 Welcome and Meeting Overview

10:15 A GFC Strategic Vision for Fire in Georgia: Address from the Director

10:25 2021 Prescribed Fire Activity and New Online Permitting

10:40 Air Quality and Smoke Impacts 2021

11:00 Smoke Management Guide for Southeastern Landowners

11:20 Prescribed Fire: A Promising Tool for Reducing the Risk of Tick-borne Diseases

12:00 Lunch Break

12:50 Drip Torch Giveaways and Polls

1:00 The Most Frequent Historical Fire Regime Measured? 500 Years of Fire Scars

1:40 Implications of 21st Century Climate Change for Prescribed Burning in the Southeast

2:05 Burning for Bobwhites: A Look at Prescribed Burning on Osceola and Tallokas Plantations

2:35 Hurricane Michael Follow-up: Fire and tingReforestation

2:55 Closing Remarks

Partner Webinar: Flash Drought Webinar Series: Emerging Tools for Flash Drought Monitoring and Prediction
2021-09-29 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Droughts are often categorized as ‘flash’ droughts when they develop or intensify in a matter of weeks (though defining flash droughts continues to be an area of active debate). The National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) and the National Weather Service (NWS) are pleased to announce a series of three webinars to help climate professionals and operational service providers better understand this phenomenon, its defining characteristics and how it varies by region and season, its impacts on agricultural and other stakeholders, and the potential for improved monitoring, prediction, and planning/response tools (datasets, maps, etc.).
This webinar, the third in the series, will include the following presentations on emerging tools for flash drought monitoring and prediction from NOAA and other institutions:
Experimental Subseasonal Tools to Support Flash Drought Monitoring and Prediction at CPC – L. Gwen Chen, NOAA Climate Prediction Center
Upcoming Product: Week-2 Flash Drought Forecasts – Brad Pugh, NOAA Climate Prediction Center
Survey of Other Emerging Flash Drought Tools – Trent Ford, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Register here.

S-130/S-190/L-180
2021-09-27 - 2021-10-01
Class Dates:
Monday, September 27
Tuesday, September 28
Wednesday, September 29
Thursday, September 30
Friday, October 1
Location: Manatee Technical College: East Campus- Michael G. Johnson Fire Academy
5530 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.
Bradenton, FL 34211
*Costs: Tuition: $225.00

Register here.

SFE Webinar: Moving to Hybrid Events - A Discussion with Natural Resource Professionals
2021-09-23 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Online, United States
SFE Webinar: Moving to Hybrid Events – A Discussion with Natural Resource Professionals
September 23, 2021 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET
Hosted by NC State University Forestry Extension and the Southern Fire Exchange
We’ll hear from presenters from around the country who will share their personal experiences and lessons learned in moving their natural resource programs to a hybrid platform. They will cover various types of hybrid events, including meetings, trainings, workshops and large-scale conferences, and how to ensure accessibility. This event is open to everyone, but is targeted for natural resources professionals who are considering organizing hybrid events in the future.

As COVID-19 continues to impact the United States, organizations are adjusting and adapting to meet their organizational needs. They are looking to blend traditional ways, such as in-person meetings, with technology, such as video conferencing, to provide content to their audience and meet their organizational needs. Some organizations have quickly adapted to the blending of traditional methods with technology to meet their needs, while others continue to look for solutions. The experiences and lessons learned herein can be used or adapted to effectively plan and conduct hybrid programs. Registration information here.

Presenters

Partner Webinar: ITEP's Status of Tribes & Climate Change (STACC) Report
2021-09-22 13:30 - 14:45 (America/New_York)
Join us for the first webinar of a series which will focus on the Status of Tribes and Climate Change (STACC) report, a new report written by a working group and convened by the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) Tribes & Climate Change Program. STACC seeks to uplift and honor the voices of Indigenous peoples across the U.S. to increase understanding of Tribal lifeways, cultures, and worldviews; the climate change impacts Tribes are experiencing; the solutions they are implementing; and ways that all of us can support Tribes in adapting to our changing world. Over 90 authors from different entities including the authors of 34 personal Tribal narratives contributed to the publication of the first STACC Report. It was written for diverse audiences including Tribal managers, leaders, and community members; the authors of future National Climate Assessments; federal and state agencies and decision makers; and non-governmental organizations. This first webinar will focus on introducing the Report and will give you a chance to hear from key authors of the Report.
Register here.
We are pleased that our following relatives and colleagues will join us.
1) Ann Marie Chischilly, Esq., ITEP Director and Interim Vice President of the Office of Native American Affairs (ONAI) at Northern Arizona University
2) Dara Marks-Marino, WattTime, Environmental Justice Analyst, former ITEP team member and STACC Report Lead
3) Kyle Whyte, PhD – Professor of Environment & Sustainability & George Willis Pack Professor – University of Michigan and STACC Report Lead Author
4) Rachael Novak, BIA Tribal Resilience Coordinator, BIA Tribal Climate Resilience Program (invited)
5) Coral Avery, Natural Resource Specialist-BIA Tribal Climate Resilience Program and Tribal Youth & Climate Liaison, NW Climate Adaptation Science Center

Oklahoma Quail Forever Field Day: Northern Bobwhite Habitat Management
2021-09-18
Oklahoma Quail Forever Field Day: Northern Bobwhite Habitat Management on Rangelands and Cross Timbers
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED – Preferably by Sept 15th for Lunch, name tag, resource materials, and parking pass to be ordered.
Details and registration can be found on the event website.
For more information, contact Laura McIver, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever Regional Representative | (907) 750.2600 | Lmciver@quailforever.org

Partner Webinar: Wildfire in the Western US: Causes, Consequences, & Adaptation
2021-09-16 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Large fires are becoming more frequent and severe across the western US. Since 1984, annual burned forest area has increased by about 1,100%. Lives, property, and livelihoods are routinely threatened and burned landscapes can be left ecologically transformed.
What is causing recent trends in fire activity? What will forests of the future look like? How can modeling wildfires and forest response guide adaptation strategies? These are among the questions to be explored. Panelists will also discuss the importance of tailoring fire and forest management to the local context, considering regionally specific factors like forest type, environmental conditions, and the presence of people.
Panelists will include: forest ecologist Winslow Hansen (Cary Institute), fire ecologist Phil Higuera (University of Montana), and natural resource sociologist Catrin Edgeley (Northern Arizona University).
This event will include time for audience Q&A. Free and open to all.
Registration is required.

Partner Webinar: Forgotten Habitat: Native Groundcover
2021-09-16 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Nature Knowledge is a speaker series hosted by Dr. Shelly Johnson to share current scientific knowledge on topics affecting nature in Florida, supported by UF/IFAS Natural Resources Extension. This month, Megan Ellis, Private Lands Biologist from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and Landowner Assistance Program, will join us to discuss the importance of native groundcover, its decline throughout history, and what we can do to recover this forgotten habitat
Register here.

Partner Webinar Series: Wildfire: Weather, Water, Weeds, Wildlife
2021-09-16 13:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Join us as we seek to better understand wildfire effects on communities and the health of our watersheds! Expert panelists will share recent education efforts, guidelines, and research on the physical, cultural and ecological conditions related to increasing frequency and scale of wildfires in our region.
Thurs. Sept. 16th, 2021 | 9am-12pm
Thurs. Sept. 30th, 2021 | 9am-12pm
Thurs. Oct. 14th, 2021 | 2pm-5:30pm

​Register here.
Since our symposia after the Griffith Park Fire in 2007 and after the Station Fire in 2009, Council for Watershed Health (CWH) has sought to continue convenings around local fire preparedness, defensible space, environmental impacts, and the increasing frequency of wildfires in our region. It is our goal to contribute to a shared understanding amongst stakeholders on the watershed issues of the day, gather lessons learned and disseminate best practices and strategies for healthier watersheds.
Each of the three webinars will consist of short presentations and moderated panel discussions by leading experts in Wildland Fire Research, Land Management, Air Quality, Water Quality, Flood Control, Weeds and Wildlife, Land Use Planning, and Utility Services.
With this Symposium, we will:

Examine agency/utility wildfire safety, mitigation measures and resiliency planning for future fire weather

Learn about research focused on wildfire effects on water quality (sediment, contaminants) and water supply in our region and how we can improve our practices

Discuss how forests, shrublands and rivers are recovering or being impacted by invasive plants and biodiversity loss

Understand how state and local agencies are preparing and responding to increased threat of wildfire

Who will attend?
Planning and Public Works Professionals, Water Resources Professionals, Land Managers Public Health Professionals, Local Business Leaders, Civil Engineers, Regulators, Land Managers, Researchers, Education and Extension Specialists, Public Health Professionals, Developers, Landscape Architects, Community Based Organizations, Academics, Students, and any and all other interested parties.

Partner Webinar: Strategies for Effective Health Risk Communication During Wildfire Smoke
2021-09-15 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Air pollution and wildfire smoke can have immediate and lasting health effects. Individuals who are regularly exposed to poor air quality may report different health behaviors and conditions than those who are less exposed. EPA researchers set out to determine whether self-reported protective behaviors or health conditions differed by air quality.
To conduct this research EPA scientists developed Smoke Sense, a citizen science project which provides real-time information on wildfire smoke and air quality and allows users to engage in citizen science by reporting their experiences with smoke, heath symptoms, and exposure-reducing behaviors.
Through the participation of citizen scientists, EPA seeks to understand the relationship between health risk communication strategies and individuals’ adoption of health protective behaviors. The study explores the role of risk perceptions and personal motivations for engagement and changing behavior.
Smoke Sense also demonstrates effective use of technology for health research and risk communication. Using a mobile app, Smoke Sense advances methodology for rigorously collecting data during emergent and dynamic conditions while simultaneously encouraging adoption of exposure-reducing behaviors.
Register here.

South Carolina Prescribed Fire Council Meeting
2021-09-15 10:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
The 2021 South Carolina Prescribed Fire Council Meeting will be held virtually via Zoom on September 15, 2021. Free registration here. More information and an agenda will be posted on the South Carolina Prescribed Fire Council website.

Partner Webinar: Climate change-induced wildfire effects on soil biodiversity
2021-09-14 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
This webinar will explore recent advances in Climate Change research on wildfires and impacts on soil biodiversity. With rising awareness of wildfires worldwide and the release of the IPCC report on Climate Change, and upcoming COP26 in Glasgow and UN Biodiversity Convention in China, the topic is timely. This webinar will focus on new understanding of climate-induced wildfires​, their effects on soil biodiversity and ecosystem processes, and identify research priorities for the future.
Join panelists Elizabeth Wandrag Univ. York, UK, Konstantin Gongalsky, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Marie-Charlotte Nilsson, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and Mac Callaham, US Forest Service, Georgia, USA, as they discuss their research, major gaps ​in knowledge, and how soil biodiversity research under global changes informs future land use policy.
Register here.

Partner Webinar: Southeast Climate Monthly Webinar + Air Quality and Health
2021-09-14 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for the Southeast Climate Monthly Webinar! These webinars provide the region’s stakeholders and interested parties with timely information on current and developing climate conditions such as drought, floods, and tropical storms, as well as climatic events like El Niño and La Niña. Speakers may also discuss the impacts of these conditions on topics such as wildfires, agriculture production, disruption to water supply, and ecosystems.

The September 14 webinar will also feature a presentation on the interactions between climate, air quality, and health.
Register here.

Presenters
Climate Overview and Hurricane Outlook Update
Sandra Rayne | Southeast Regional Climate Center

Water Resources Overview
Jeff Dobur/Todd Hamill | NWS Southeast River Forecast Center

Agriculture Impact Update
Pam Knox | University of Georgia

Interactions Between Climate, Air Quality, and Health
Nyahsa Dunkley | State of Georgia Climate Office

North Atlantic Prescribed Fire Science Workshop
2021-09-14 08:00 - 2021-09-16 17:00 (America/New_York) | New Jersey, NJ, United States
SYNOPSIS
The last year has posed unimaginable challenges to fire scientists, managers, and wildland firefighters. We are thrilled to have a plan to reconnect in person!
Field trips to New Jersey Pine Barrens sites will stimulate discussion about regional prescribed fire science challenges and solutions. The workshop day will build a structure for region-wide prescribed fire science co-production and post-workshop coordination.
​
Join us for a three-day experience in a camp environment outdoors, at YMCA of the Pines in Medford Township, New Jersey. Spend time in the field with fellow fire science stakeholders. Get your thoughts working in the amazing classroom of New Jersey’s prescribed fire landscape. We anticipate that registration costs will be $55 per person per day, which will include meals, refreshments, and on-site lodging (exact cost will be billed closer to the workshop date). We recommend registering for all three days of this workshop, but full registration is not required. Travel cost assistance is available; please email NAFSEhelp@gmail.com for details.
​
Agenda:

Registration closes Monday, August 23 at 11:59 p.m. EDT
Day 0, Mon 9/13: Arrival, optional dinner (not provided) with other participants at a local restaurant
Day 1, Tues 9/14: NJ Pine Barrens field trip, including Silas Little Experimental Forest, Coyle Airfield, and other local spots of interest
Day 2, Wed 9/15: Workshop day, including facilitated discussion of prescribed fire science needs and solutions in the North Atlantic region
Day 3, Thurs 9/16: Field trip to “Small Timbers,” a fire-managed private forest on part of cranberry farm

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Please reply to this email if you have questions!
Workshop information is also available on our website.

Mitigation Best Practices Training
2021-09-13 - 2021-11-14
This national level training from Coalitions & Collaboratives, Inc. and the USDA Forest Service is designed for current or future mitigation specialists, wildfire program leads, and others who work with residents and their communities to reduce wildfire risk. The Mitigation Best Practices training concentrates on science, methods and tools that will help you engage communities/residents while also helping you to eliminate ineffective practices.
Participants should come with a basic understanding of wildfire, how homes burn, and vegetation management practices. The course assumes you know how to mitigate, but that you could use support engaging your community. In this workshop, you will work through some of the greatest challenges facing our wildland urban interface communities. The course will help you break down ineffective practices to make space for the more effective ones with a focus on the on-the-ground mitigation activities.

APPLY FOR TRAINING HERE.

Participation in the course is limited to individuals actively engaged in mitigation. Selection to participate in the training will be based on your answers provided and on submission date.

You may view and download the 2021 class syllabus
HERE.

Alabama Prescribed Fire Council Meeting 2021
2021-09-09 08:15 - 16:30 (America/Chicago) | Online, United States

International Wildfire Prevention Workshop
2021-09-08 - 2021-09-09
REGISTRATION
Registration for the 2021 International Wildfire Prevention Workshop is free! But in order for you to be mailed your registration materials, you’ll need to register before August 13, 2021.

AGENDA
Click here for the DRAFT agenda!

YOUR WORKSHOP HOSTS
Your hosts are the National Association of State Foresters; the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, and Great Lakes Compact Prevention Committees; and USDA Forest Service Region 9. This year’s International Wildfire Prevention Workshop is being held virtually in tandem with the 2021 NASF Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh.

Fire Database Community Workshop
2021-09-01 - 2021-09-02
Join us as we highlight cutting-edge fire research, engage interdisciplinary collaborations, and discuss the need for and benefits of creating a fire database network.
​
The Fire Database Community Workshop is funded by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Biological and Environmental Systems Directorate and supported by the Consortium of Appalachian Fire Managers & Scientists.
Register here.

Facebook Live: Wildfire Safety
2021-08-31
Tune in on August 31 at 12 p.m. Pacific Time as experts – Susie Kocher, Stephen Quarles and Yana Valachovic – go live to answer questions about wildfire safety.
Watch on the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources Facebook page.

Partner Webinar: Optimizing Ecosystem Services from Longleaf Pine: Balancing Carbon Sequestration with Watershed Health
2021-08-30 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Longleaf pine forest conservation and restoration are critical priorities for protecting threatened and endangered species, and can also benefit landowners interested in improving game habitat. Restoring and managing frequent-fire longleaf pine may also benefit water yield, or the quantity of rainfall that makes it into streams, rivers, and groundwater. This webinar will summarize evidence that fire-managed longleaf pine forests consume less water than other forest types in the southeast, and has potential to improve water yield in southeastern watersheds. Potential tradeoffs of longleaf pine management for water yield, such as reduced carbon sequestration, will be presented. Balancing carbon and water benefits will be discussed in the context of the latest available science on forest carbon and water, and the relative value of these important ecosystem services at local, national, and global scales.
No registration required, join the webinar here.

2021 North Carolina Prescribed Fire Council Annual Meeting
2021-08-18 - 2021-08-19
Registration for the NCPFC/CAFMS Annual Meeting/Workshop is now available at: https://apfire.wixsite.com/ncpfc
The annual meeting and presentations will be held August 18, 2021 in Morganton, NC at the Foothills Conference Center. This meeting will be hybrid, with both in-person and virtual options. A field trip will be held on August 19, 2021. We will follow the most up-to-date state, federal and local Covid-19 guidance at the time of the meeting. More details including the agenda can be found on the registration page.
Register here.

SFE Webinar: Potential Impacts of Prescribed Fire Smoke on Air Quality, Public Health, and Socially Vulnerable Populations in the Southeastern U.S.
2021-08-12 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
A free one hour webinar from North Carolina State University, the Southern Fire Exchange, and the University of Florida.
Society of American Foresters CFE Credit Expected.
Presenters:
Sadia Afrin, Graduate Research Assistant,
Dept. of Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University
Fernando Garcia Menendez, Assistant Professor
Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University
Register here.
Webinar Description: While prescribed fire is an essential land management tool in the Southeast, its impacts on air quality and public health remain uncertain. This webinar will cover a recent project that used burn permit records, air quality modelling, and epidemiological associations between fine particulate matter concentrations and multiple health endpoints to examine these impacts, with a focus on case studies in Georgia and North Carolina. Results show not only potential health impacts from prescribed fire, but call for greater attention to the characterization of prescribed fire impacts, potential air quality benefits of land treatment, and the communities most exposed to fire-related smoke. Following the presentations there will be time for audience Q/A with the speakers.

Partner Webinar: Southeast Climate Monthly Webinar
2021-08-10 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
The Southeast Climate monthly webinar series is held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 10:00 am ET. This series is hosted by the Southeast Regional Climate Center, in partnership with the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) and the NOAA National Weather Service. These webinars will provide the region with timely information on current and developing climate conditions such as drought, floods and tropical storms, as well as climatic events like El Niño and La Niña. Speakers may also discuss the impacts of these conditions on topics such as agriculture production, water resources, wildfires and ecosystems.
Register here.

Partner Webinar: Flash Drought Webinar Series: Current Understanding and Future Priorities
2021-08-03 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Droughts are often categorized as ‘flash’ droughts when they develop or intensify in a matter of weeks (though defining flash droughts continues to be an area of active debate). The National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) and the National Weather Service (NWS) are pleased to announce a series of three webinars to help climate professionals and operational service providers better understand this phenomenon, its defining characteristics and how it varies by region and season, its impacts on agricultural and other stakeholders, and the potential for improved monitoring, prediction, and planning/response tools (datasets, maps, etc.).
This webinar, the second in the series, will showcase the following presentations and discussion by NIDIS staff on key takeaways from the December 2020 Workshop, with an emphasis on priority activities to advance flash drought monitoring, prediction, and planning/response.
NIDIS Flash Drought Workshop: Key Takeaways and Priorities – Joel Lisonbee and Molly Woloszyn, NOAA-NIDIS
Additional reflections on the workshop and on priority actions to advance flash drought research:
Mike Hobbins, NOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory
Amanda Cravens, USGS Fort Collins Science Center
Register here.
