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<br /> <br /> <br />DEPAn.:ri\.~ ENT Of <br />NATUI{.AL <br />ItESOUltCES <br /> <br /> <br />JUNE 2006 DROUGHT UPDATE <br /> <br />Water Availability Task Force Co-Chairs <br /> <br />Veva McCaig, CWCB - 303-866-3339 <br />Email-genoveva.mccaig@state.co.us <br /> <br />Jack Byers, DWR - 303-866-3581 <br />Email -jack.byers@state.co.us <br /> <br />For a complete summary of the June 22, 2006 Meeting of the Water Availability Force, please visit the <br />CWCB website at www.cwcb.state.co.us. <br /> <br />Executive Summary <br /> <br />Much of Colorado continues to experience increasing drought conditions with very limited relief forecast. The State is <br />projected to experience above normal temperatures with no better than average precipitation. The precipitation shortfall is <br />expected to intensify the impact on the agriculture and increasingly stress the available water supplies. The good news is <br />that for the most part reservoir storage is significantly better than 2002 although the April through June precipitation <br />shortage is similar to 2002. <br /> <br />. April through June has been significantly dry and hot. The warm and dry conditions across Colorado have had a <br />significant impact on the agricultural and livestock industry with no relief in the forecast, resulting in a <br />worsening of the water supply outlook. <br /> <br />. Streamflows during May were above average in most parts of the State; however, the higher streamflows in May <br />caused by early snow melt will lead to lower streamflows later in the summer and increased early demand on <br />reservoir storage with critical late summer water supply concerns. <br /> <br />. The reservoir storage is considerably better than in 2002. The departure from average end of month storage was <br />near 1,500,000 acre feet below average in 2002, and is currently about 40,000 acre-feet below average. This will <br />mitigate much of the potential impact for municipalities however the agriculture will draw on reservoir storage <br />early threatening late summer water supplies. <br /> <br />. The agriculture sector is at particular risk because general statewide stream forecasts are that stream flows will <br />be lower when the irrigation needs increase throughout the summer. The Colorado State University Cooperative <br />Extension reports that 32 Colorado Counties have disaster declarations due to drought and that 16 more are <br />being considered. <br /> <br />. In general the municipal supplies are in good condition with individual water providers implementing <br />appropriate conservation measures. <br /> <br />. The US Drought Monitor shows all of Colorado to be either abnormally dry (northwest Colorado) or to be in <br />some stage of drought. The Monitor indicates that southeast Colorado is at the extreme drought intensity level. <br /> <br />. The Western Water Assessment states that the drought status has worsened in eastern Colorado and is likely to <br />persist in eastern and southern Colorado. Water supply forecasts for the season are lower than May 1 st due to <br />warm, dry conditions in most areas, although storage in many reservoirs is higher than average for this time of <br />year due to early runoff. <br /> <br />. Predictions from the NOAA-CIRES Climate Diagnostics Center are that Colorado will experience higher than <br />average temperatures through September 2006 and that Colorado has an equal chance of above or below normal <br />precipitation during that same time period. <br />