WSP10590

• File Number: 8056
• Description: Drought Preparedness
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 11/1/1979
• Author: US DOC
• Title: High and Dry - Drought in Colorado
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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. The second bill, HB 1723, appropriated approximately $46,000 to the
Governor's Office for allocation to the Office of the State Drought
Coordinator. HB 1723 also appropriated approximately $104,000 to a
new Drought Council whose membership was legislatively
reconstituted to render it a partisan body consisting largely of
individuals representing the legislative and executive branches of
State government. An "executive committee," whose majority was
comprised of legislators, controlled Drought Council expenditures.

. In revamping the Drought Council, the Legislature transformed it
from strictly an advisory body to one that held tangible adminis-
trat'ive <Ind implementive powers over drought policy.

3.0 COLORADO DROUGHT PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

3.1 Regional Drought Management Structures: Concept, Implementation,
and Operations

. The regional drought management concept was developed in the
interests of tai loring drought management to local needs. The
substate regional structure was utilized for drought management in
the interest of striking a balance bdween agricultural and
municipal needs.

. Implementation of the regional drought management plan occurred in
two phases: a pre-funding phase (roughly May 1977 through July
1977) during which the State encouraged the regions to corrunence
informal drought mitigation activities despite the lack of funding;
and an operational phase (beginning July 18, 1977, when the
Governor's Office received a $254,000 EDA grant to fund regional
drought management projects, through June 1978) during which the
regions undertook the formal implementation of drought mitigation
programs as mandated by contracts with the State.

. The State/regional contracts mandated three general spheres of
regional activity: providing technical assistance to applicants
for federal relief; monitoring and reporting to the State regarding
targeted concerns; and reviewing and implementing local policy in
drought-related areas of concern.

. Regional drought management structures were designed to mirror that
of the State, using a drought coordinator and a policy advisory
co",mittee (called technical advisory committees in the regions).
In practice, regional drought coordinators were appointed in all
but one region. Differences in the activity level, make-up, and
power of regional technical advisory comm~ttees accounted for some
of the variability in the intensity of the regional drought response
programs.

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