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<br />Historical Perspectives on Colorado Drought <br /> <br />l <br /> <br /> <br />might the future hold? <br /> <br />Drought will be a continuing "un-welcome guest" to Colorado's climate. Despite all <br />the good science applied to understanding drought, considerable uncertainty exists in <br />trying to anticipate its arrival, duration, severity and departure. The only thing <br />certain is that drought will come again <br /> <br />lIenz and Badini, 2002 attempted 10 take a bold look into the future of Colorado's <br />climate from 2000 to 2075. Their look ahead, shown in Table 9, favors several <br />periods of state-wide drought. Of particular concern, an extended period of drought <br />appears likely within the next 50 years. This result should not be considered <br />unrealistic given the paleo-climatc research results reported earlier. <br /> <br />Trend anal~!sis of a hlended climate data set for 3nrage <br />ill the major Colorado Rin'r ba..ins from 2000 to 2075 <br /> <br />Table 9 <br />prl'cipitatio <br /> <br />P.rec1liii.tiOnT.~lhTrf;iClors OUliPOIC _ <br />An ~average" decade marked by an early drought and wet EI Nino <br />Significant multi-year drought likely due to extended la Nina <br />Drought gives way to a "mildly wet" strongly EI Nino decade <br />Extended period of drought possible as La Nina is enhanced <br />EI Nino returns to bring a wet end to the decade <br />An extended period of above average precioitation returns <br />Note: This outlook is exPt-.,;mental <br /> <br />n <br /> <br />- <br />Jifn!. <br />2000-2009 <br />2010-2019 <br />2020.2029 <br />2030-2065 <br />2065-2069 <br />207().2079 <br /> <br />An extended drought may have chased the ancient Anaz.azi Indians from their <br />dwellings in the Mesa Verde area. Ifa similar strong and protracted drought would <br />occur over the next 100 years it would cause major impacts on modem Colorado <br />residents and their way of life. The Drought of 1999-2003 has shown that major <br />impacts on our quality oflife and water supplies can be inflicted by short-term <br />drought. We need to plan for '''the ine\'itablc major droughts of the future". <br /> <br />The remainder of this compendium will present strategies and plans for dealing with <br />the inevitable droughts of the future. As Colorado's population and economic bases <br />grow in the next century careful stewardship of our '....ater supplies will be mandatory <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />il. <br /> <br />1101 remember Ihe pa.ft are doom ell to repeat <br /> <br />who do <br /> <br />Those <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />/952) <br />Philosopher <br />'olllme I. 1905 <br /> <br />George Salltayalla (1863 - <br />Americall <br />J <br /> <br />Page 29 <br /> <br />The Life of Reasoll <br /> <br />recycled content paper <br /> <br />HDR Engineering. Inc. <br />Printed on 30% post-consumer <br /> <br /> <br />What <br />