drawdown

[ draw-doun ]

/ ˈdrɔˌdaʊn /

a lowering of water surface level, as in a well.

a reduction or depletion: a drawdown of weapons in an arms-limitation plan.

Origin of drawdown

1780–90, for literal sense; draw + down¹

Obama made clear where he stood when he quickly undercut his $120 billion investment by announcing a drawdown.

How Obama Lost Afghanistan |Elise Jordan |April 5, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Your novel spans 150 years, but given the drawdown in Afghanistan it feels particularly pertinent to the present day.

Colum McCann Talks New Novel ‘TransAtlantic’ and Narrative4 |Phil Klay |June 14, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Former Washington Post reporter Ellen Knickmeyer on his drawdown speech.

Will Obama’s Troops Plan Work? |The Daily Beast |June 23, 2011 |DAILY BEAST
The drawdown would be modest this year, and next year would come only after the summer fighting season.

The Politics Behind Obama’s Decision |John Barry |June 23, 2011 |DAILY BEAST

The debate now is between a drawdown of 5,000 and about 15,000.

Don’t Abandon Afghanistan! | |June 9, 2011 |DAILY BEAST

drawdown

/ (ˈdrɔːˌdaʊn) /

a depletion or reduction, for example of supplies

a continuous decline in an investment or fund, usually expressed as a percentage between its highest and lowest levels

the intentional draining of a body of water such as a lake or reservoir, to a given depth

drawdown

[ drô′doun′ ]

A lowering of the water level in a reservoir or other body of water, especially as the result of withdrawal.

The difference in elevation between the level of water in a well and the level of groundwater in the area in which the well is located.