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<br />oo,9nn <br /> <br />PLAN ACTIVATION CRITERIA. The drought response plan will be activated <br />on the basis of a Water Availability Index. This numerical description <br />of drought cond i t ions .Ii II be general in nature, and wi II be developed <br />through the Water Availabil ity Task Force (WATF).* This Index will be <br />published monthly on a year round basis. The Index numerical characteri- <br />zation of drought conditions is shown in Figure I below. <br /> <br />FIGURE I <br /> <br />WATER AVAilABiliTY INDEX <br /> <br />INDEX <br />4.00 or more <br />3.00 to 3.99 <br />2.00 to 2.99 <br />1.00 to 1. 99 <br />.50 to .99 <br />.49 to -.49 <br />-.50 to -.99 <br />-1.00 to -1.99 <br />-2.00 to -2.99 <br />-3.00 to -3.99 <br />-4.00 or less <br /> <br />CHARACTER OF RECENT WEATHER <br /> <br />Extremely wet <br /> <br />Severely wet <br /> <br />Moderately wet <br /> <br />Near normal <br /> <br />Moderate drought <br /> <br />Severe drought <br /> <br />Extreme drought <br /> <br />This Drought Index will be utilized to activate various levels of the <br />drought response plan. Important drought plan trigger points are re- <br />lated to the Drought Indexes shown at Appendix 3 to the Plan - that is, <br /> <br />The WATF is activated at (-1) or before a moderate scale <br />drought has fully developed. <br /> <br />When a moderate drought develops (-2) other Impact Task <br />Forces begin to function and detailed assessments are de- <br />veloped. Also, at this level, State departments take pro- <br />grammatic responses as required. <br /> <br />When the Review and Reporting Task Force determines that <br />response problems require extraordinary management (Approx- <br />imately -3), or upon request of a lead a~ncy,. the IACG will <br />be activated. <br /> <br />*The WATF will utilize various drought assessment means, including <br />the Palmer Drought Index produced by the National Weather Service <br />and measures developed by the Colorado Department of Natural <br />Resources. <br /> <br />A-5 <br />