The Environment Agency (EA) has published a consultation on its proposed updated national drought response framework.

The EA is responsible for monitoring, reporting and acting to reduce the impact of drought on the natural environment.

Photo credit: Kazuend

The ‘Drought: how it is managed in England’ document is the updated version of the ‘National Drought Response Framework’ released in 2017. It describes:

• how drought affects England
• how the EA works with government, water companies and others to manage the effects on people, business and the environment

Each of the EA’s 14 operational areas also produce their own area drought plans, which serve as operational guidelines for their response to drought. The ‘Drought: how it is managed in England’ document supports the area drought plans by providing:

• a strategic overview for how we manage a drought to minimise damage to the environment, agriculture and to secure essential public water supply
• information for EA staff, government departments and stakeholders to use in planning for and managing drought

This consultation will help the EA to gather feedback and input on the document, and to draw out any area-specific concerns that should be considered by operational areas as they update their area drought plans.

The consultation closes on 10 January.