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PLAN ACTIVATION CRITERIA. The drought response plan will be activated <br /> on the basis of a Water Availability Index. This numerical description <br /> of drought conditions will be general in nature, and will be developed <br /> through the Water Availability Task Force (WATF) .* This Index will be <br /> published monthly on a year round basis. The Index numerical characteri- <br /> zation of drought conditions I's shown in Figure 1 below. <br /> FIGURE 1 <br /> WATER AVAILABILITY INDEX <br /> INDEX CHARACTER OF RECENT WEATHER <br /> 4.00 or more Extremely wet <br /> 3.00 to 3.99 Severely wet <br /> 2.00 to 2.99 Moderately wet <br /> 1 .00 to 1 .99 <br /> .50 to .99 <br /> .49 to -.49 Near normal <br /> -.50 to -.99 <br /> -1 .00 to -1 .99 <br /> -2.00 to -2.99 Moderate drought <br /> -3.00 to -3.99 Severe drought <br /> -4.00 or less Extreme drought <br /> This Drought Index will be utilized to activate various levels of the <br /> drought response plan. Important drought plan trigger points are re- <br /> lated to the Drought Indexes shown at Appendix 3 to the Plan - that is, <br /> - The WATF is activated at (-1) or before a moderate scale <br /> drought has fully developed. <br /> - When a moderate drought develops (-2) other Impact Task <br /> Forces begin to function and detailed assessments are de- <br /> veloped. Also, at this level , State departments take pro- <br /> grammatic responses as required. <br /> - When the Review and Reporting Task Force determines that <br /> response problems require extraordinary management (Approx- <br /> imately -3) , or upon request of a lead agency, the IACG will <br /> be activated. <br /> *The WATF will utilize various drought assessment means, including <br /> the Palmer Drought Index produced by the National Weather Service <br /> and measures developed by the Colorado Department of Natural <br /> Resources. <br /> A-5 <br />