Drought and Groundwater Management: Interconnections, challenges, and policy responses

Droughts have severe impacts on the economy, society, and environment. They also have impacts on groundwater and vice versa. While most analyses consider drought and groundwater as disconnected, we argue that drought and groundwater management should be conjunctively considered. This article presents some key interconnections, identifies challenges, and discusses illustrative policy responses. We highlight several advancements found in international scientific research and describe future directions for drought and groundwater management. While many technological innovations have improved our understanding of drought and groundwater’s complex nature, policy and governance advances have not kept pace. • Groundwater is increasingly relied upon during, and impacted by, droughts. • Several tools exist for understanding and predicting drought impacts. • Groundwater policy and governance advances have not kept pace. • Political will and long-term planning are critical to face future challenges. • Both technological and sociopolitical innovations are necessary.