Increasing the usability of drought information for risk management in the Arbuckle Simpson Aquifer, Oklahoma

This study develops a generalized framework that can be used to link local impacts with readily available drought information, thus increasing the usability of existing drought products in decision making. We offer a three-step risk-based framework that can be applied to specific decision-making contexts: (i) identify hydrologic impact thresholds, (ii) develop threshold exceedance model, and (iii) evaluate exceedance likelihood.

The framework is demonstrated using a study site in south-central Oklahoma, which is highly susceptible to drought and faces management challenges. Stakeholder input from interviews are used to identify "moderate" and "extreme" thresholds below which water needs are not met for important uses. A logistic regression model translates existing drought information to the likelihood of exceeding the identified thresholds.