IMPROVING DROUGHT COMMUNICATION IN NEVADA TO ENHANCE REGIONAL AND LOCAL ADAPTIVE CAPACITY

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: NEW
• Funding Source: OTHER GRANTS
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1026735
• Grant No.: 2021-41210-35176
• Project No.: NEVW-2021-04466
• Proposal No.: 2021-04466
• Program Code: MB
• Project Start Date: Sep 1, 2021
• Project End Date: Aug 31, 2024
• Grant Year: 2021

Project Director
SINGLETARY, L.

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA
(N/A)
RENO,NV 89557

Performing Department
Geography / Extension

Non Technical Summary
Drought resilience among underserved communities in Nevada can be increased by improving Extension's ability to communicate drought information. Our ultimate goal is to enhance long-range planning by increasing knowledge, deepening trust, and fostering dialog between multiple and diverse audiences and Extension professionals. Our first objective is to translate existing resources into Spanish and create Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant online information to expand the reach of archived information. Our second objective is to improve planning for drought resilience among underserved populations by conducting needs assessments. Needs assessments that include local-level community input will improve understanding of how drought impacts specific populations within the state, allowing for more effective and appropriate drought communication as well as more effective and equitable drought response planning. Specifically, we plan to engage tribal communities, rural counties, small businesses, people with disabilities, home gardeners, and low-income urban communities, populations that are often ignored in the context of drought planning. Our final objective is to craft print and web-based resources to meet community needs. Our geographic scope is limited to Nevada, but newly developed resources will be shared with federal, state, and community partners and made available online for widespread use.

Animal Health Component

0%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

0%

Applied

50%

Developmental

50%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
132	0430	2070	100%

Knowledge Area
132 - Weather and Climate;

Subject Of Investigation
0430 - Climate;

Field Of Science
2070 - Meteorology and climatology;

Keywords

communication

disaster

drought

needs assessment

planning

Goals / Objectives
Our primary goals are to improve drought response by1. improving access to drought resources,2. improving two-way communication of the drought response needs of several underserved communities in Nevada and the state's drought response committee, and3. producing new, targeted drought education resources. We will specifically target Spanish-speaking Nevadans, low-income communities, rural communities and the small businesses therein, tribal communities, those with disabilities, and home gardenersTo meet these goals, we have outlined the following objectives1. Exhume and enhance existing educational materials.Most University of Nevada Extension materials about drought were written and released in English. We plan to translate existing material into Spanish, using professional translators, to improve access. In addition, we will ensure that existing material is ADA-compliant. Because non-accessible materials were removed from public access, improving accessibility will increase access for those with disabilities, as well as the broader public.2. Improve understanding of information needs and drought impactsWe will conduct needs assessments of the communities described above to better understand how drought impacts them and what their drought information needs are. This will allow production of more effective communication products and provide information that will allow improved drought response.3. Develop targeted drought communication resourcesAssessment of existing materials, coupled with the needs assessment will allow us to identify gaps in existing information and develop resources to meet those needs.

Project Methods
We plan to rely on four main methods to achieve our objectives: (1) broadening access to existing information, (2) conducting needs assessments, (3) developing new communication tools, and (4) employing Extension as a boundary organization.We will expand access to information and resources through Spanish translation and redesign of information and resources. We will identify key resources and recreate or revise these materials so they are ADA accessible. We will rely on professional graphic/web design to create infographics and other images that are attractive without comprising accessibility. We will also contract with professional translators to translate existing materials into Spanish. Needs assessments that include local-level community input will improve understanding of how drought impacts specific populations within the state, allowing for more effective drought communication tools and the development of more effective responses. These needs assessments will also facilitate the two-way flow of information between local communities and decision- makers, employing Extension as a boundary organization. First, will identify organizations, groups, and agencies affected by drought or serving those affected by drought following the suggestions published in the Drought-ready Communities guide (Svoboda et al. 2011). We will use existing relationships and work with community partners as much as possible to raise awareness about our online survey. For example, co-PD Kratsch works extensively with the Master Gardeners program, so she will distribute information about surveys through that program. We will attend community events for information sharing and data collection throughout Nevada when appropriate (e.g., Earth Day, Field Day). Findings from the needs assessments will be used to design and create several simple infographics that communicate key information about drought. We will focus our efforts on producing one-page, printable, science-based resources that are designed for multiple and diverse audiences and are also web-accessible for easy sharing with teachers, program partners, traditional media, and via social media. In order to provide equal access and opportunities to people with disabilities all web-accessible content will be designed to overcome barriers that prevent access based on auditory, cognitive, physical, or visual disabilities (i.e., Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2 Level AA). Resources will be available in English and Spanish. Lastly, project personnel are engaged with state personnel so Extension can act effectively as a boundary organization, providing information from communities for planning and enhancing communication to targeted communities. To facilitate continued dialog and increase community resilience public participants will be encouraged to report local-level drought impact reporting in order to support, understand and serve the information needs of all segments of society. Recognizing that drought is recurrent, we will also develop web-accessible templates for timely information sharing with traditional media as well as social media outlets (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram). @font-face{panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;mso-font-charset:0;mso-generic-mso-font-pitch:variable;mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face{panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;mso-font-charset:0;mso-generic-mso-font-pitch:variable;mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;}@font-face{panose-1:2 0 5 3 6 0 0 2 0 4;mso-font-alt:Optima;mso-font-charset:0;mso-generic-mso-font-pitch:variable;mso-font-signature:-2147483545 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face{panose-1:2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3 4;mso-font-alt:"Times New Roman";mso-font-charset:0;mso-generic-mso-font-pitch:variable;mso-font-signature:-536859921 -1073711039 9 0 511 0;}@font-face{panose-1:2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3 4;mso-font-alt:"Times New Roman";mso-font-charset:0;mso-generic-mso-font-pitch:auto;mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal{mso-style-unhide:no;mso-style-qformat:yes;mso-style-parent:"";margin:0in;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;;mso-fareast-mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-}p{mso-style-priority:99;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-right:0in;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:0in;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;;mso-fareast-}.MsoChpDefault{mso-style-type:export-only;mso-default-props:yes;mso-ascii-mso-fareast-mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-mso-bidi-}div.WordSection1{page:WordSection1;}

Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23

Outputs
Target Audience:The project team expanded the target audience to explicitly include: 1) Federally recognized Native American Tribal nations on reservation lands in Nevada, as indicative of historically underserved communities. 2) Non-tribal rural communities across Nevada represented by their elected goverment officials via the annual 2023 meeting of the Nevada Association of County Officials (NACO). 3) Certified Nevada Master Gardeners and certified landscapers who attend Extension Master Gardener outreach trainings. Changes/Problems: Project complications and delays Upon the replacement of PD McAfee and COPD Ormerod, a replacement PD and COPD team was identified (SIngletary (PD), Rebori (COPD) and Kratsch (COPD), and the project moved forward expeditiously. Despite a complete change of team leader/members, our new teamexecuted existing scope of work and expanded the original scope of work in relevant and necessary directions to include assessing the needs of Nevada's Tribal and rural communities. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project team is continuing to assess drought information needs through 3 data collection venues in order to inform our efforts to prepare and improve drought communication resources for state of Nevada. As needs assessment survey data are collected, analyzed and reported, the drought publications identified for revision/updates will be pursued. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The new project team met 3 times to deliberate which exhumed publciations that were earlier identified for revisions are still appropriate for updates and revisions and which are no longer relevant, within the context of climate change impacts surrounding drought and drought planning and adaptation. Based upon these discussions, a list for exhumed publications to update was determined and circulated among an informal review from peer scientists. Peer scientists include Extension speciliats and field faculty who disseminate these materials to the broader general public to support outreach education on drought preparedness and response statewide. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?As needs assessment survey data are collected, analyzed and reported, we anticipate preparing and disseminating an Extension publication that summarizesthese results, along with the earlier identified updated/revised drought communication products.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? NOTE: The original project team (McAfee & Ormerod) was replaced first by DeDecker early 2023, and then by Singletary (PD) in late September, 2023 (with COPDs Rebori and Kratsch). The following accomplishments were completed during past year ofproject: New PD and COPDs named for thisi project revisited the list of exhumbed drought communication products former PD and COPD targeted for revision and updates. Nevada Division of Water Resources Planning Director, requested that we include in our funded scope of work, revisions/updates of NDWR drought communication products. Developed, submitted for peer review, and finalized3 drought information needs assessment surveys - a) focused on assessing needs of Native American Tribal Nation key informants on reservation lands in Nevada; b) one focused on assessing needs statewide of broader community members; and ) a third featured open-ended questions to be asked during focus group sessions with Native American Tribal Nation key informants (those employed by their Tribe to oversee Tribal and reservation wide response and planning for climate change, specifically drought, and included Tribal water and land managers). Completed and submitted applications for each of these 3 survey instruments and survey administration protocols to UNR Office of Human Research Integrity for IRB review - all were determined to be exempt. Administered Native American Drought Information Needs Assessment in person (printed copies at conference booth) at the Nevada Indian Tribal Commission Annual Meetings. Administered the Statewide Drought Information Needs Assessment via e-survey to the Nevada Administration of County Officials and the Statewide Master Garden and Landscape program. An UNR graduate student, working on her MS Thesis in Geography, continued working with the project team to expand the scope of work of this project to include a significant Tribal community component, including developing a plan for evaluation of documents focused on Tribal drought planning, whether or not they were developed by or made available through the University of Nevada, Reno Extension. Other project activities and accomplishments The project team met 3 times during the past year and communicated frequently by email. PD L. Singletary attended the 2023 American Water Resource Association meetings in November 2023. ModifiedIRB for Tribal participation in targeted drought information needs assessments 2-3 times, as necessary, which included securingletters of participation in the assessments from Native American Tribes in Nevada. Collaborated with UNR Indigenous Liaison to coordinate needs assessment activities with Tribes.

Publications

• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2022 Citation: Singletary, L., Madison, L., McAfee, S.(2023). Tribal Drought Planning Information Needs Assessment.
• Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Singletary, L., Rebori, M., Kratsch, H. Nevada Statewide Drought Needs Assessment (2023).

Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22

Outputs
Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems:As described in the letter accompanying our requests for change of PIs (Ormerod to Singletary and McAfee to DeDecker), internal personnel reassignment have slowed progress, both because of uncertainty around those job changes, and because changes in project personnel have caused us to revisit work so that it aligns with new project personnel's preferences while still meeting project goals. Because of the delays caused by changes in the project team, we are considering relying a bit more heavily on surveys and a bit less on townhalls, simply to keep progress moving. For example, the University's newly hired Director of Community Indigenous Relations suggested that we survey Tribal communities at the Annual Convention of the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada, in part because we would likely get the broadest input most quickly; as a result, there have been costs associated with attending that meeting rather than traveling to communities. A beneficial change has been brining on a graduate student. Her work has actually expanded the scope of our work on Tribal drought information needs. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?1. Exhume and enhance existing educational materials. There was not a strong training or professional development component associated with this part of the project. However, the graduate student contributing to the project has had the opportunity to learn a great deal about the format and context of Extension publications. 2. Improve understanding of information needs and drought impacts Training and professional development were not identified as key targets for this project, particularly in the first year, but investigators have had the opportunity for professional development. The process of developing and refining surveys has, incidentally, provided former investigator McAfee, who trained as a physical scientist, valuable exposure to and experience with survey-based research, enhancing her professional skill set. The graduate student is receiving valuable instruction in stakeholder engagement, and all project participants have grown more familiar with existing Extension materials relating to drought. In coming years, we do plan to share the results of surveys and town halls with Extension and with other key drought-planners in the state (e.g., the Drought Response Committee) to enhance state-wide knowledge of drought needs and concerns. 3. Develop targeted drought communication resources This was not a major activity planned for the first year of the project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?1. Exhume and enhance existing educational materials. One community of interest was University of Nevada Extension educators. We reached out to them to let them know about the project and solicit input for materials to be exhumed. We have not had reports to result to them but will let them know via internal email about document updates. 2. Improve understanding of information needs and drought impacts We do not yet have data to be released here. It will be shared with Extension educators and with the state Drought Response Committee. 3. Develop targeted drought communication resources This was not a major activity planned for the first year of the project. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?1. Exhume and enhance existing educational materials. We still need to reach out to Extension educators to determine if they need accessible pdfs of the 25 documents that were converted to web pages. We have recently received an estimate for the cost to remediate four documents, in addition to the three already revised in-house. Once this first set of seven documents has been remediated, we will send them for Spanish translation. We will also assess the nine documents we considered for remediation "if funds were available" in the context of costs. 2. Improve understanding of information needs and drought impacts In light of the delays caused by changes in project personnel (described in the October application for a change of PI), we will be re-assessing plans for engaging with the other audiences outlined in the proposal. Unfortunately, budget-related internal personnel reassignments caused some delays in progress. Immediate plans for the next year include Revaluating the initial surveys, modifying as needed and moving forward with those surveys, Planning trips to meet with target communities in rural Nevada and Las Vegas, and Beginning to cross-walk identified information needs with existing materials 3. Develop targeted drought communication resources Over the course of the next year, we anticipate developing one to two fact sheets to meet gaps in community drought information needs.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. Exhume and enhance existing educational materials. Thus far the project has reviewed 111 drought-related documents that were indicated as being removed from Extension's website because they were not Section 508 compliant. Twenty-two were online as pdfs, likely because the author had already taken steps to remediate the documents. We identified six high-priority documents that were a high priority for remediation. Three have been made accessible in house. Another three will shortly be sent to an external graphic designer for remediation after web links in the document are checked to ensure that they are current. Another 13 documents were identified as important but requiring review to determine whether or not the information needs to be updated. Twenty-five documents had been converted to web pages and were sufficiently complete to access online; with these documents we need to reach out to Extension educators to determine if they need accessible pdfs. We also reached out to Extension educators and received one request for document remediation. We have recently received an estimate for the cost to remediate the document. Once this first set of seven documents has been remediated, we will send them for Spanish translation. We will also assess the nine documents we considered for remediation "if funds were available" in the context of costs for remediation of higher priority documents. 2. Improve understanding of information needs and drought impacts During the first year of the project, we developed a two-part survey based on questions in Drought-Ready Communities: A Guide to Community Drought Preparedness and had it reviewed by the University's Institutional Review Board where it was determined to be Exempt. However, changes in personnel on the award have led to revisions of the project. A graduate student working with the Nevada State Climate Office wanted to engage particularly with understanding Tribal drought planning needs (Tribal communities were one of the audiences identified in the original proposal). In consultation with the University of Nevada, Reno's new Director of Community Indigenous Relations, we revised the plan for learning about Tribal planning needs. Instead of a two-part survey, the student, working with Drs. Singletary and McAfee, developed a more in-depth survey that we plan to administer in person at the Annual Convention of the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada in mid-December 2022. The survey has been finalized and is ready for submission to the University's Institutional Review Board for evaluation. The survey is adapted from one used by Filmore and Singletary (2021) to evaluate Tribal climate change planning information needs and is based on the graduate student's review of existing Tribal drought plans from the western United States. The review of existing material from outside of the University of Nevada, Reno Extension was not part of the original project, but, in addition to being a key aspect of the student's thesis, is providing useful supplementary material for this project. 3. Develop targeted drought communication resources This was not a major activity planned for the first year of the project.

Publications