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<br />TItE COLORAdo DROUGHT MiTiGATioN ANd RESpONSE PLAN
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<br />Figure 2.5 Drought Impact Task Forces (Continued)
<br />
<br />Wildfire Protection Task Force (WPTF) cant,
<br />Tasks
<br />· Activated by Memorandum of the Governor based on the
<br />drought severity indicators and sequence of action chart.
<br />· Review guidelines and procedures - update / revise,
<br />· Assess current and potential severity of impacts,
<br />· Make projections for several scenarios; analyze wildfire
<br />threat for each,
<br />. Analyze barriers and needs to meet projected threats,
<br />· Identify sources of assistance and recommend response
<br />levels and activities.
<br />· Inventory possible fire protection resources, availability,
<br />cost estimate, and identify procedures to activate,
<br />· Identify key contact points for support service agencies,
<br />· Identify and describe key wildfire policy and authority
<br />issues,
<br />· Make recommendations and identify costs on how major
<br />impact problems can be solved,
<br />· Evaluate effectiveness of wildfire protection activities.
<br />· Devise a wildfire danger warning system for coordinated
<br />public wamings/messages.
<br />· Develop procedures for a coordinated system of fire restrictions
<br />and declarations by local, state, and other officials,
<br />· Maintain supporting data and record of activities.
<br />
<br />Data Sources:
<br />Fire weather/danger station networks, Wildland Fire
<br />Assessment System, local fire departments, county
<br />sheriffs, state and federal wildfire agencies, Colorado
<br />Wildfire Coordination Group, fire behavior specialists,
<br />State Climatologist, Water Availability Task Force
<br />
<br />~
<br />Assesses soil erosion, cropllivestock loss, and insect!
<br />pest issues.
<br />
<br />Members
<br />Colorado Department of Agriculture (Chair)
<br />U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
<br />Natural Resources Conservation Service
<br />Farm Services Agency
<br />Colorado Division of Water Resources
<br />State Soil Conservation Board
<br />State and Federal Extension Services
<br />Agricultural Industry Groups
<br />Cattle, grain, and dairy associations
<br />Colorado Counties, Inc.
<br />Colorado Municipal League
<br />Others as needed
<br />
<br />Activation of this task force is based on the following
<br />criteria:
<br />· Subnormal precipitation in summer / fall in a major
<br />agricultural area resulting in loss of ground cover for
<br />wheat and pasture land.
<br />· Indication soil moisture conditions may create dust
<br />blowing/storms in certain critical areas,
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<br />. Subnormal precipitation in mountains, resulting in
<br />inadequate irrigation prospects based on drought
<br />severity indicators,
<br />· Request of the Governor.
<br />
<br />Tasks
<br />· Provide coordination and liaison with USDA agencies, state
<br />agencies, local govemment, and agricultural industry groups.
<br />· Review guidelines and procedures.
<br />· Collect and evaluate impact data,
<br />· Assess current and potential severity of impacts.
<br />· Make projections for several scenarios.
<br />· Analyze barriers and needs to meet projected threats.
<br />· Identify sources of assistance,
<br />· Recommend response levels and activities.
<br />· Estimate and report on costs of needed augmentation activities.
<br />· Maintain supporting data and records of activities.
<br />· Review drought reporting in relationship to current and /
<br />or potential threats.
<br />· Inventory additional or special resource availability,
<br />costs, and procedures for activation,
<br />· Identify key contact points with support service agencies
<br />and agricultural industries,
<br />· Identify and describe response actions that are available.
<br />· Project impacts of drought to agricultural economy,
<br />· Recommend response to drought impacts,
<br />· Identify procedure for coordination with other task forces.
<br />· Make requests and recommendations on the use of
<br />Governor's Agricultural Emergency Fund.
<br />
<br />Data Sources
<br />Natural Disaster Damage Assessment Report (USDA),
<br />USDA Flash Situation Report (Dept. of Agriculture),
<br />Economic Outlook Reports, Regional Outlook (Western
<br />Livestock Roundup), Pest reports (grasshoppers),
<br />Agricultural & Economic Outlook Reports, Colorado Ag
<br />Update, Crop Progress report, Colorado Agricultural
<br />Statistics.
<br />
<br />These reports are available from Colorado Agricultural
<br />Statistics 303-236-2300 or Toll-Free at 1-800-392-3202.
<br />Online report sources are www nass.usda.aov/co/,
<br />www nass usda QOv, and www ers usda.aov/ ,
<br />
<br />~
<br />Assesses the impact of drought upon tourism,
<br />
<br />Members
<br />Colorado Office of Economic Development and
<br />International Trade - Office of Tourism (Chair)
<br />State tourism agency
<br />Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation
<br />Colorado Department of Agriculture
<br />Colorado Department of Local Affairs
<br />Colorado Division of Wildlife
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<br />JANUARY 2001
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