** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** HISTORICALLY, THE 100TH MERIDIAN HAS BEEN THOUGHT OF AS THE DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN THE ARID WESTERN US AND THE HUMID EASTERN US. HOWEVER, MUCH OF THE US' EASTERN GREAT PLAINS IS PROJECTED TO GET DRIER THROUGHOUT THE 21ST CENTURY, FORMING A NEW 100TH MERIDIAN ON THE EASTERN GREAT PLAINS WHERE AGRICULTURE AND WATER RESOURCES MAY BE STRESSED BY THESE CHANGES. IN PARTICULAR, AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS IN THE EASTERN GREAT PLAINS ARE LIKELY TO REQUIRE INCREASED USE OF IRRIGATION TO SUPPORT AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, WITH POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO SURFACE WATER AND GROUNDWATER RESOURCES AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT DEPEND ON THESE AGRICULTURAL AND WATER RESOURCES. SUSTAINING CROP PRODUCTION, COMMUNITIES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES IN THE EASTERN GREAT PLAINS REQUIRES PROACTIVE RESEARCH AND PLANNING TO ENSURE THAT THESE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES CAN THRIVE IN THE FUTURE.THIS PROJECT WILL USE THE EASTERN KANSAS RIVER BASIN, LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE 'NEW 100TH MERIDIAN', AS A CASE STUDY TO EXPLORE POTENTIAL CLIMATE RISKS, ADAPTATION STRATEGIES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS. WE WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS BY DEVELOPING IMPROVED REGIONAL CLIMATE PROJECTIONS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND POTENTIAL FUTURE CLIMATE RISKS IN THE REGION, INCORPORATING THESE CLIMATE PROJECTIONS IN ENVIRONMENTAL MODELS TO IDENTIFY A PORTFOLIO OF EFFECTIVE LAND AND WATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, AND ASSESSING HOW WATER RESOURCES AND RURAL COMMUNITIES WOULD RESPOND TO THESE CLIMATE AND MANAGEMENT SCENARIOS. OUR ACTIVITIES WILL BE GUIDED BY A STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY GROUP REPRESENTING THE AGRICULTURAL, GOVERNMENTAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SECTORS TO ENSURE THAT OUR METHODS, RESULTS, AND PRODUCTS HAVE A HIGH DEGREE OF LOCAL RELEVANCE AND ARE APPROPRIATELY SUITED TO THE MANAGEMENT NEEDS OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES.THIS PROJECT WILL HELP COMMUNITIES ON THE EASTERN GREAT PLAINS MANAGE AGRICULTURAL AND WATER RESOURCES IN THE PRESENT, AND PREPARE FOR POTENTIAL FUTURE CLIMATE CONDITIONS. WE WILL PRODUCE IMPROVED LOCAL CLIMATE AND WATER USE PROJECTIONS THAT CAN BE USED FOR PLANNING PURPOSES, IDENTIFY STRATEGIES TO HELP AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS ADAPT TO CHANGING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, AND UNDERSTAND HOW THESE CHANGES WILL AFFECT RURAL COMMUNITIES. FURTHERMORE, WE WILL CONTRIBUTE TO A HIGHLY SKILLED WORKFORCE IN THE REGION THROUGH THE TRAINING OF AT LEAST EIGHT STUDENTS, INTERNS, AND POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLARS, AND EDUCATE THE NEXT GENERATION BY CREATING TEACHING TOOLKITS FOR K-12 TEACHERS ACROSS THE STATE OF KANSAS.