43 U.S.C. § 2222

The Secretary, acting pursuant to the Federal Reclamation laws, utilizing the resources of the Department of the Interior, and in consultation with other appropriate Federal and State officials, Indian tribes, public, private, and local entities, is authorized to prepare or participate in the preparation of cooperative drought contingency plans (hereinafter in this subchapter referred to as “contingency plans”) for the prevention or mitigation of adverse effects of drought conditions.