Illinois Drought

Drought is a complex physical and social phenomenon and occurs in most areas of the world. It heavily impacts economic development and human society. This page contains information from the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) and other sources on drought and drought-related topics focused on Illinois. Links are available and grouped by category.

Planning

Droughts are a common feature in the climate of Illinois. Over the past 115 years, Illinois has experienced several serious droughts. The goal of the Illinois Drought Preparedness and Response Plan is to assist community and state officials and the public with information and tools that promote better decision-making in water supply planning and reduce drought-related impacts, water competition, and conflicts of use. The drought plan is a dynamic plan that the State Water Plan Task Force (SWPTF) can update to provide state agencies, communities, and the public with a resource to stay informed about water supply issues, drought actions, and key considerations communities should make for drought preparedness.

The Water Survey's Surface Water Supply Systems Drought Vulnerability assesses the potential impact of severe drought conditions on Illinois community water supplies.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has funded the Water Survey to lead regional water supply planning activities for 11 planning region across the state.

The State Climatologist’s Drought in Illinois webpage provides the summarized and real-time data for drought within the state.