WSP08775

• File Number: 8056
• Description: Drought Preparedness
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 1/1/1979
• Author: USGS
• Title: Hydrologic and Human aspects of the 1976-77 Drought
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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CHRONOLOGY OF THE 1976-77 DROUGHT

27

Note. Streamflow is de-
ticientwhen it is within
the lowest 25 percent of
record or below the lower
quartile line.

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EXPLANA TlON

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October 1975 to
December 1977

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1975 1976 1977

Figure 10. Monthly discharge of Fox River at Rapide Croche Dam, near Wrightstown, Wis.

cloud seeding bet ween June 1 and August 17,
1977. Though there was some skepticism
beforehand, the farmers were pleased with the
results and are planning to use weather modi-
fication in the future.
In Wisconsin, 261 applications for water
diversion permits were received statewide, but
only 18 were granted. This shows that addi-
tional surface-water supplies were not readily
available because of the low streamflow or
because of prior water rights. The reliance on
ground water for supplemental supplies was
common as indicated by the 512 permits
granted for high capacity wells.
Federal Community Development Grants
totalling $625,000 were made to five townships
in Iron County, Wis., to rehabilitate or develop
municipal water systems. But in other areas
of Region 04 affected by the drought, the
popUlation density is so low that the develop-
ment of water distribution systems was not
feasible.
The impact of the drought was serious
enough to allow 80 counties in Michigan,
Wisconsin, and Minnesota to be designated
disaster areas by the Federal Government. By

the fall of 1976, farmers in 65 of Wisconsin's
72 counties had suffered crop losses and
reduced income. Agricultural officials esti-
mated the loss in 1976 at more than $623
million. The Governor of Wisconsin appointed
a Drought Task Force to advise him and to
coordinate relief measures.
Wildfires in Wisconsin average about 2,000
to 2,500 per year and burn about 8,000 acres;
but in 1977, 1,811 fires burned 48,000 acres.
Most of the fires occurred during the first 6
months of 1977 when drought conditions were
prevalent. The greater acreage burned by
fewer fires is indicative of the extremely dry
conditions. The largest forest fire in 40 years
burned 16,500 acres in the Upper Peninsula of
Michigan in August 1976.

Upper Mississippi-WRC Region 07
and
Souris-Red-Rainy-WRC Region 09

The Upper Mississippi and the Souris-Red-
Rainy Regions (fig. 11) include the northeast
half of North Dakota, the northeast corner of
South Dakota, all of Minnesota except the