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�O \(\ <br />�a <br />Evaluation and integration of selected drought triggers and indices -- Their role and <br />use in Colorado's Drought Mitigation and Response Plan. <br />Project duration November 2009 — September 2010 <br />Colorado Climate Center <br />Department of Atmospheric Science <br />Colorado State University <br />Fort Collins, CO 80523 <br />(970) 491 -3690 <br />Introduction <br />The selection of the Upper Colorado River as the first pilot project for the National <br />Integrated Drought Information System is providing an unprecedented opportunity for <br />Colorado to look closely at hydrometeorological observations and their role in drought <br />monitoring and early warning. The concurrent scheduled revision and update of <br />Colorado's Drought Mitigation and Response plan by the Colorado Water Conservation <br />Board is especially timely as it leverages the NIDIS pilot project basin - focused activities <br />and resources to re- evaluate traditional Colorado drought monitoring statewide. <br />The Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University has played an active role in <br />climate observation, drought monitoring, data integration and decision support since its <br />establishment in 1974. Starting with the intense winter drought of 1976 -77, the Colorado <br />Climate Center has helped develop and evaluate tools for monitoring and communicating <br />drought information. Since the first Colorado State Drought Response Plan was <br />implemented in 1981, the Colorado Climate Center has worked through the Colorado <br />Water Availability Task Force to propose and evaluate several drought indices to <br />simplify the communication of drought severity. These included the Colorado Modified <br />Palmer Drought Severity Index (CMDSI) and the standardized precipitation index (SPI). <br />The Colorado Climate Center was also a participant in the development, evaluation and <br />implementation of the Surface Water Supply Index (SWSI). <br />Scope of Work <br />In response to the current Colorado Water Conservation Board's 2009 Drought Plan <br />Revision, we propose the following tasks to evaluate and improve the use of drought <br />triggers and indices in the revised State of Colorado Drought Mitigation and Response <br />Plan. <br />1) Provide brief documentation (a description of the index and it's computation and <br />required input data) for the Colorado Modified Palmer Drought Severity Index <br />(CMPDSI). Evaluate the pros and cons of the CMPDSI and provide recommendations on <br />how to utilize this index in statewide drought monitoring -- $3,000. <br />