Arizona, Georgia, and South Carolina have experienced extreme droughts within the past decade. Droughts of even greater intensity will likely increase in the coming years, and other stresses such as population growth will compound the effects of climate variability and change on water resources in these and other states. Decision makers need frameworks that expand the range of options and instill the flexibility necessary to adjust to the predicted and unpredicted changes they will face. Research suggests that innovative approaches such as drought preparedness, integrated water resources management, and adaptive management might instill such flexibility and improve adaptive capacity to droughts.