PUB00106

• Year: 2000
• Title: A History of Drought in Colorado: Lessons Learned and What Lies Ahead
• CWCB Section: Water Conservation & Drought Planning
• Author: Colorado State University
• Description: Lessons learned and what lies ahead
• Publications - Doc Type: Tech Report

~olorado Water Resources Research Institute~

The Colorado Drought Response Plan

The State of Colorado has responded to and prepared for
drought in several ways during this century. For example,
state agencies have supported improvements in agricul-
tural management, establishment of insurance programs,
promotion of water conservation, and diversification of the
regional economy. As the State responded to two short
but intense droughts in 1976-1977 and again in 1980-1981, it
became apparent that better coordination was required in
the assessment of the development and impacts of
drought, in the dissemination of information on developing
droughts and on alternate responses available to decisions
makers, and in the determination of when the State would
act to request actions at the federal or local level. These
concerns led to the development and implementation of
Colorado's first Drought Response Plan in 1981. The
purpose of the Plan is "to provide an effective and system-
atic means for the State of Colorado to deal with emer-
gency drought problems which may occur over the short
or long term." The Plan was initially developed and
imp1emented in 1981. It was revised in 1986 and again in
1990. As of December 1999. the Plan is under review for a
2000 revision.

The Plan did not create a new government entity to deal
with drought. Rather, the Plan provided a means for
coordinating the efforts of those state agencies and related
organizations (e.g. local government agencies, academic
research centers and similar public and private organiza-
tions) that would be called upon to deal with drought.
typically from the perspective of a particular economic
sector (e.g. agriculture).

The Plan is organized into an Assessment System and a
Response System. The Assessment System is organized
into ten task forces: the Water Availability Task Force
(TF#l), eight Impact Assessment Task Forces (TFs #2-9).
and the Review and Reporting Task Force (TF #1 0). Of
these task forces, only the Water Availability Task Force
(WATF) meets continuously. The WATF has met at least
quarterly since 1981, or more often if drougbt conditions
are developing. The WATF consists of state, federal, local,
and academic experts on drought analysis. This Task
Force makes assessments and projections (in comparison
with the historical norm) on:

snowpack
reservoir levels
precipitant
streamflows

soil moisture
ground water levels
temperatures

If the WATF determines - based on their evaluations,
experience, and common sense, and on whether certain
"trigger levels" of drought indices (including the Palmer
Drought Severity Index and the Surface Water Supply
Index) have been reached - that drought conditions are

developing, the WAiF Chairman will notify the Governor
and recommend activation of the Colorado Drought
Response Plan. WATF notification will include informa-
tion on which areas of the state will be most affected.

The Governor then activates ~e Review and Reponing
Task Force. as well as the appropriate impact task forces.
The Review and Reporting Task Force reviews and
oversees the activities of the WATF and Impact Task
Forces and prepares timely reports to leadership, the media.
and key elements of the Response System. Local govern-
ments and state agencies are called upon to designate a
drought coordinator. Each Impact Task Force assesses the
potential drought impact for a particular economic sector or
concern. and consists of representatives from agencies
that would normally be responsible for issues related to
that sector. The Impact Task Forces are:

TF#2:
TF#3:
TF#4:
TF#5:
TF#6:
iF #7:
1F#8:
1F#9:

Municipal Water
Wildfire Protection
Agricultural Industry
Tourism
Wildlife
Economic (aggregate economic loss)
Energy Loss
Health

The Response System consists of several lead agencies as
well as an Interagency Coordinating Group (IACG). The
IACG designates specific agencies as lead agencies for
responses in appropriate areas, and ensures coordination
of response activities by the various agencies. The
Drought Response Plan states which of the emergency
lead agencies are responsible for what responses. The
IACG also handles media releases, coordination with the
Executive Branch and state legislature, and makes recom-
mendations regarding the need for a federal drought
declaration.

The Office of Emergency Management and other agencies
are currendy reviewing the Colorado Drought Response
Plan for a 2000 revision. Changes under consideration for
the updated plan include increased guidance on drought
impact mitigation for long tenn drought, and greater public
access to and education on the Colorado Drought Re-
sponse Plan and the state's current water availability
status. Comments and suggestions on the Colorado
Drought Response Plan would be welcomed by:

JeffBrislawn
Colorado Office of Emergency Management
15075 South Golden Road
Golden, CO 8040 I
[phone]
[e-mail]

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