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~\C ? ~~ -: J L SITUATION In recent years, Colorado has experienced serious and costly water shortages. These shortages have been the result of changing con- diticns in water supply and demand. Disequ,l I Ibrium between supply and demand has developed because of Colorado's relatively arid climate and growing population. As population continues to increase and as climate and conservation practices fluctuate, a temporary diminishment In water supply can be highly disruptive to the normal process in both the urban and rural environments. Two consecutive years of significant reduction In precipitation in Colorado would have serious and far reaching economic impacts. When droughts occur, the State is Impacted with a variety of ambiguous and complex problems, which, if identified and evaluated, can be dealt with in a well organized and cost-efficient way. The most significant impacts which typically confront the State are related to such water intensive activities as: agriculture. wild- fire protection, municipal usage, commerce, tourism and wildlife preservation. A reduction of electric power generation and water qual ity deterioration are also potential problems. A systematic and timely application" of limited resources, when util ized on the basis of a clear understanding of existing or potential impacts, can reduce drought effects. Should drought intensify to the point where broad scale impacts exceed the State's response capabil i- ties, an existing and effective State program for the mitigation of drought impacts would facil itate a request for federal assistance. II. PURPOSE The purpose of the Plan is to provide an effective and systematic means for the State of Colorado to deal with emergency drought problems wh.!ch, may' occur over th?" sliort or long term. III. EXECUTI ON A. ,f,oncept. To bet'ter enable Colorado's State goverrvnental process to deal with the complexities of emergency drought response management, an ,assessment system has been established which is separate from the response system. Assessment and response, working In tandem, support and are subordinate to, the overall governmental process. The assessment system utilizes a broad range of information sources, gathers and evaluates data, and provides for the del ineation of the problem areas which cannot be met locally. The response system deals with those current and unmet needs that fall within the State's capabilities. If unmet needs become excessive or extra- ord Inary, reconvnendat Ions are made to the Governor for State legislative or federal assistance. To deal with unusually complex emergency problems an Inter-Agency Coordinating Group comprised of representatives of lead response agencies has been established. This group takes action to resolve issues internally when possible, and alternatively provides recommendations for further action to the Governor. These relationships are depleted in two diagrams for the responsibility and system flow (following Paragraph V of this Plan) as Appendixes 1 and 2. The sequence of actions to be undertaken by the -1-