Evolution of the Southwest Drought Learning Network: Collective Response to Exceptional Drought

Abstract The 2018 exceptional drought over the Colorado Plateau motivated unprecedented responses by individuals and organizations. Some of these made clear that proactive adaptive measures were fundamental to resilience. Climate service organizations (CSOs) supporting observing realized utility a network share document successful responses. In February 2020, small group CSOs resource managers (RMs) met envision Southwest Drought Learning Network (DLN) align with other existing efforts, but specific goal enabling peer-to-peer learning build resilience future droughts. Since then, has grown into five organized teams focused on aspects building Team activities include sharing case studies help others learn from past experiences, hosting monthly briefings introduce data management tools, identifying information needed support critical decisions, innovating new traditional monitoring technologies, indigenous communities. allows for collaboration leveraging partner resources strengths. DLN website ( https://dln.swclimatehub.info/ ) hosts more about activities. This innovative continues grow in response needs water scarcity region. For benefit who may be considering similar learning, we history, process, lessons learned regarding DLN.