How This Country Reversed a Drought That Killed Over a Million People

Drought is defined by different factors, including precipitation levels and soil moisture. The U.S. has developed a U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM), which is a system used to categorize the ranging levels of drought. The classifications range from severe to extreme to exceptional. As of April 2023, drought conditions have markedly improved in multiple states throughout the U.S. when compared to previous years.

It's not just the U.S. that has seen incredible comebacks following severe drought conditions, however. From Australia to South Africa, residents have seen improvements that have affected their agriculture, water supply, and overall environment. (After this article, check out The Most Disaster-Prone Cities in the US.)

To put together this list of drought-stricken areas making miraculous comebacks, 247 Tempo reviewed several sources, including the USDA Economic Research Service, which highlights drought conditions in the western region of the U.S., and Time Magazine, which reported on droughts that occurred outside of the country.

The Sahel Region of Africa lost immense amounts of arable land between the 1970s and 1980s. This led the once-fertile region to become a near-lifeless desert. However, communities refused to stand by and let the loss of land continue. They came together to focus on reforestation projects to work toward restoring the fertile land. Through sustainable land management, the region has made a notable comeback and improved agricultural production.

It's a desert state and long-standing drought conditions are not exactly new. But droughts affect the life in Arizona's ecosystems, including the humans that call this state home. With the implementation of the Central Arizona Project (CAP), Arizona has been able to transport water from the Colorado River into the local communities. Additionally, water-saving efforts have led to the development of technologies that help to reduce the adverse repercussions of drought conditions in the state.

Droughts are well-known in Australia but the most notable drought residents experienced occurred between 1997 and 2009. It became known as the Millennium Drought. Everything in the environment was impacted, especially agriculture and water sources. Finally, rainfall brought relief to Australia, filling up water bodies yet again. Water management saw innovative initiatives that proved effective in creating more robust systems. Ecosystems were given another chance to thrive and the Australian landscape returned to its lush and lively appeal.

Between 2011 and 2017, California experienced a major drought. The state's natural ecosystems were disrupted and agriculture was affected. It looked hopeless for this drought-stricken area of the U.S. during this period. However, heavy rainfall and snowpack arrived to save the state. Previously parched reservoirs filled up to the relief of many. It wasn't just the weather that helped California recover. It was also the intentional application of water management strategies, a focus on conservation, and improvements across infrastructure that helped the state come back from the six-year-long drought.

In Colorado, droughts have not been long-standing or persistent. They occur periodically. Nevertheless, their impacts are real, affecting water supplies, the state's agriculture, and even leisure activities. In recent years, Coloradans have seen improvement in the Rockies' snowpack levels. This is a vital water source. Additionally, the state has made some changes that include updates to its conservation practices and water management policies. Working in tandem with nature puts states in the best position for recovery post-drought.

Droughts in Ethiopia led to famine in the 1980s, when drought conditions were at their worst. Displacement occurred, leaving locals with no other recourse but to seek refuge in other countries. 1.2 million people died during this time and 2.5 million were internally displaced. Nearly half a million refugees left Ethiopia in search of an environment where life could thrive. Unfortunately, during this time, 200,000 children became orphans. It was a dark three-year period and the comeback arrived only after intense reforestation and conservation efforts. The government took a different approach to help the country recover and implemented the Green Legacy initiative, which led to billions of trees being planted.

There's no getting away from the impacts on agriculture during droughts. In Idaho, they know this all too well. However, after noting how drought conditions have affected the state, they moved into practicing restoration and conservation of natural water bodies as well as efficient irrigation practices. Each drought experience is different, which requires careful, calculated efforts to restore the region. For instance, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System, Idaho experienced the 44th driest June on record since 1895. That means the state is down 0.49 inches from normal precipitation. This system assists with tracking the intensity of droughts in any given region within the U.S., which allows for careful planning.

Droughts haven't been uncommon in Kansas, either. To protect agriculture, the state began using drought-resistant crops. Additionally, they put other measures into place that include better irrigation and conservation of soil. Not all parts of the state experience droughts at the same intensity at the same time. Some regions of the state report no droughts while other regions are currently experiencing a severe drought (labeled a D2 intensity).

Natural ecosystems have been disrupted throughout the state of Montana following droughts, particularly across the Missouri River Basin (MRB). The supply of water and agriculture has been severely impacted as well. During the 1930s and the 1950s, prolonged droughts in the region became a serious problem. With the downfall of natural ecosystems, the issues the state faced only compounded. It got to the point where energy and the transportation of goods were affected. But it's not just prolonged droughts that can leave a region struggling. Even short droughts like the one that occurred in 2020 through 2021 cost the state well over $2 billion dollars. The state has had to reconsider and adapt its efforts toward management to help the drought-stricken areas recover.

Like other states in the U.S., Nebraska has had to get crafty when facing the effects of drought. They too have had to switch to drought-resistant crops to recover their agriculture. Additionally, they've implemented advanced technology to improve their irrigation policies. According to the National Integrated Drought Information System, 34,000 of Nebraska's residents are currently in areas of drought. That number has gone up 8.1% since last week. Nevertheless, with the changes Nebraska has implemented, the state is better prepared to handle drought conditions now and in the future.

It's no secret Nevada has a dry climate and as such, the state has long experienced severe droughts that have affected water supplies along with agriculture. Nevada has moved into using reclaimed water and has altered their irrigation practices to ensure a more efficient process. They have also implemented xeriscaping, which is when an area is landscaped in such a way that irrigation is not required (or only slightly required). Currently, Nevada has 14 counties with USDA Drought & Disaster designations. Though some areas of the state are abnormally dry, there are currently no severe droughts in the region.

In New Mexico, prolonged droughts have wreaked havoc. The U.S. Drought Monitor itemizes the categories of historically observed impacts in the region. In the first, least severe category, fire danger increases and soil moisture drops. As things progress to the most extreme classification, several more shifts occur. There's no surface water left for agriculture, which strains farmers as they have to rely on private wells. To combat these ongoing issues, the state has made efforts toward water conservation and has used alternative water sources. They've had to get creative, implementing restoration projects and improving the efficiency of their irrigation methods.

Historically, North Dakota has experienced different levels of drought. Like other states, grass fires increase, grasshoppers infest, dusty conditions arise, and river flow decreases. It's gotten worse when cattle die as a result of blue-green algae blooms and when large wildfires erupt. Though the state has seen the worst of drought conditions, they have made a comeback with many of the same measures other states have taken. A focus on improving water management, creativity with the use of drought-resistant crops, and conservation efforts have all played a part in helping North Dakota bounce back.

The state of Oklahoma has experienced a range of impacts following different drought conditions. In the abnormally dry category (classified as D0), Oklahoma has seen stock pond levels decrease and crops get stressed. As drought conditions worsen, the state sees how deer reproduction declines and lake recreation activities are not quite what they used to be. In the category of D4 (exceptional drought), the state has had to place burn restrictions, has seen how the cost of hay and water rise, and how fire season lasts for prolonged periods. To come back from all these challenges, Oklahoma moved into water-saving mode. They improved their irrigation practices, conserved soil, and implemented drought-resistant crops to support continued agriculture.

Currently, Oregon is experiencing abnormally dry (D0) and moderate droughts (D1) throughout most of the state. Historically, when this occurs, there have been several consequences. They include impacts on ski season, the decline of water levels, and impacts on fields. When drought conditions have been worse, the state has seen marshes dry up, pastures turn brown, and rivers run dry. At D3 (extreme drought), there have been impacts on fish populations, delayed planting, and high wildfire activity. To combat these problems, Oregon has had to invest in water infrastructure, better water management planning, and the restoration of the state's natural bodies of water.

Between 2015 and 2018, Cape Town in South Africa faced a severe threat. This period became known as "Day Zero." Water restrictions were leaving residents with limited choices. Time Magazine reported at the time that residents were limited to 13 gallons of water each day per person. To pull themselves out of the crisis, Cape Town implemented rigorous measures — and not just with water restrictions. They also invested in groundwater extraction and desalination plants to come back from the risk of running out of water completely.

In the land where everything is bigger, droughts have also been severe. It's a large state so not all of it sees the effects of severe or extreme drought conditions. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, there are three active drought classifications active in the state. They include D0 (abnormally dry), D1 (moderate drought), D2 (severe drought), and D3 (extreme drought.)

Historically, the state has endured several challenges following these conditions. From postponed planting to early cattle sales, hard soil, and a severe loss of wildlife, the state has seen some of the worst of what droughts can do. To rectify these issues and come back from the devastating effects, Texas has implemented a range of water conservation measures. They've also worked toward obtaining alternative water and have employed technology to irrigate more efficiently. (Next, read about El Niño Events That Shocked Scientists.)