Nevada, one of the driest states in the nation, faces escalating challenges from pervasive and more frequent droughts intensified by rising temperatures

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded the Board of Regents of Nevada System of Higher Education, operating as University of Nevada, Reno, $169,038 under the Smith-Lever Extension Funding program (CFDA 10.511) on October 1, 2025, for drought resilience research, education, and outreach across Nevada.

The University of Nevada, Reno Extension's Special Needs Program delivers integrated research, education, and outreach addressing drought intensification, water scarcity, and related natural hazards across rural and urban regions. Current initiatives include Where We Live, which compares rural residents' perceptions of weather impacts with recorded data to strengthen community resilience to drought, heat, and wildfire; Mobile Energy Water Reuse Systems, assessing public attitudes toward water reuse and reuse technologies in response to drought and water supply disruptions; Drought Communications, enhancing long-range drought planning through knowledge-building and dialog, including Living with Drought, a research-based web resource; Managing Wild Horse Populations, educating the public about free-roaming equids' impact on arid lands; and SnowPACS, exploring water markets to sustain food security under changing water availability.

Performance occurs in Reno, Nevada from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2030. The award funds translate science into practical, community-based solutions addressing intensifying weather impacts on water availability, food systems, and local economies, with future funding anticipated to scale these efforts statewide and enhance Nevada's resilience to drought and related natural hazards.

These conditions threaten water availability, agricultural productivity, ecosystem health, and community well-being across both rural and urban regions. To address these natural resource challenges, the university of nevada, reno extension's special needs program delivers integrated research, education, and outreach that strengthens drought resilience across nevada. Current initiatives represent a cohesive network of interdisciplinary projects that translate science into practical, community-based solutions: where we live compares rural residents' perceptions of weather impacts with recorded data, generating insights to strengthen community resilience to drought, heat, and wildfire. Mobile energy water reuse systems assesses public attitudes toward water reuse and reuse technologies in response to drought and related water supply disruptions. Drought communications enhances long-range drought planning by increasing knowledge and fostering dialog and includes living with drought, a research-based web resource to enhance the public's drought response. Managing wild horse populations educates the public about the impact of free-roaming equids on arid lands. Snowpacs explores the use of water markets to sustain food security under changing water availability. Together, these programs address the intensifying impacts of weather on water availability, food systems, and local economies. Future smith-lever s pecial needs funding will continue extension's excellence in integrated research and outreach, scale these efforts statewide, enhancing nevada's resilience to drought and related natural hazards. Relevance and expected outcomes: more frequent warmer, prolonged, and widespread droughts in nevada exacerbate water scarcity, threaten food production, and intensify wildfire risk, directly affecting nevada's economy, public health, and natural environments. The proposed smith-lever special needs project is highly relevant to state and national extension priorities by addressing weather resilience, water sustainability, and emergency preparedness through locally grounded education and outreach. Extension's integrated approach ensures that scientific research findings are directly translated into actionable knowledge for decision-makers, producers, and community members. Partnerships with tribal nations, rural water managers, and regional stakeholders ensure equitable participation in drought adaptation planning and resource management. Expected outcomes include: enhanced community capacity to understand and manage drought impacts through data-driven outreach education. Expanded access to emergency and drought response resources, including water reuse technologies and online drought information. Improved communication and collaboration among researchers, extension educators, and local stakeholders, strengthening nevada's statewide drought resilience network. Increased adoption of sustainable water and agricultural practices, particularly among tribal, agricultural, and rural communities. Development of new educational materials and training modules focused on drought resilience, water reuse, and weather preparedness for youth, agricultural producers, natural resource managers, and community leaders. Greater public awareness and engagement in addressing drought and related weather challenges, supporting long-term behavioral change and community preparedness. By linking science, education, and community action, this project advances the smith-lever mission of delivering cooperative, r esearch-based solutions to special state and regional needs. IT will empower nevada's citizens to make informed decisions that sustain water resources, strengthen food systems, and build resilience.