As a severe drought affects Santiago, the Northwest and the frontier areas, authorities have started a series of initiatives to ease the situation should the dry spell continue. Rice farmers in Mao and Esperanza are complaining about the lack of irrigation water, and cattle producers are losing livestock due to the lack of the precious liquid. The National Institute for Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI) has announced the construction of a series of small dams to store water for agriculture and the head of the Santiago Water Corporation (CORAASAN) is planning to begin water rationing in the city in two weeks. Water levels of the principal resources for the area, Tavera, Bao and Lopez-Angostura, are reaching all-time lows. Domingo Rodriguez, the president of the Cibao Ecological Society, reminded reporters that the deforestation of the areas around the rivers is the principle cause of the dry rivers and creeks.