WATFMeetingSummaryJuly2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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JULY 2008 DROUGHT UPDATE Water Availability Task Force Co - Chairs Veva Deheza, CWCB - 303 - 866 - 3441 ext 3226 Kevin Rein, DWR - 303 - 866 - 3581 ext 8239 . Email - veva.deheza@state co.us Email kevin.rei n@state.co.us Executive Summary The 2007 - 08 La Niña * event appears to be lingering and hav ing a n e gative effect for gricultural sector . Eastern Colorado , especially S E C olorado , has experienced very dry and windy conditions with persiste nt warm severe to exceptional drought temperatures. According to the US Drought Monitor, SE Colorado is experiencing . The current situation is being closely monitored by agriculture officials and the Water Availability Task Force, for a possible recommen dation to activate the Agriculture Impact Task Force Mitigation & Response Plan pertinent to an ag drought . Current dry conditions could be mitigated in the short term by the possible rainfall Colorado could receive from the remnants of Hurricane Dolly. On eastern plains , Ju ly has been a very dry month in terms of precipitation. At a CSU Experiment Station on the edge of the Town of Walsh , from July 2007 to July 2008, there has been a total of 7.92 inches of precipitation . In comparison, p rior to the 2002 D rought, the station recorded 14.42 inches of precipitation over the same time period. Top soil and sub soil is drying up along the eastern plains and into Kansas acc ording to an assessment done by the Department of Agriculture. Conditions fo r pasture and grazing lands have worsened. In certain parts of eastern Colorado, cattle have been unable to graze . The wheat crop has suffered due to dry conditions. In 2007, Baca County experienced a record wheat crop. This year, it is estimated th at 50% of the wheat fields in the county have been abandoned. Statewide, the wheat crop has been salvaged due to Best Management Practices and more drought resistant wheat seed. 2 2 counties in Colorado have requested Drought Disaster Declaration . Govern or Ritter has sent a letter to the Department of Agriculture asking for the declarations . Farmers and ranchers have seen a $41 increase per acre in the cost of production in one year . Ultimately, this will put these farmers and ranchers in greate r debt. Wind has been the main cause of wildfires spreading statewide . Dry conditions also contribute to the size of the recent wildfires. $1.03 million of the Emergency Fire Funds have been used so far this year. With 5 months to remaining in the y Office. Statewide, wildfire potential remains relatively low but can change from day to day . Humidity will help the wildfire situation in the next few weeks. Col http://cwcb.state.co.us/Conservation/DroughtPlanning/ColoradoDroughtM itigationResponsePlan/ * Sea surface temperatures at the Equator in the Pacific Ocean i mpact global climate patterns. Depending on these patterns, Colorado could be experiencing El Niño or La Niña conditions.