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<br />last month, the "wet" forecasts have consolidated into +5 to +14% probability shifts, <br />with higher confidence in several ofthese forecasts. For August in particular, this <br />translates into a better chance of rain and cooler temperatures than have been <br />experienced since late June. <br /> <br />REPORTS FROM IMPACT TASK FORCE CHAIRS <br /> <br />Ron Cattany. Dept. of Natural Resources. fire activity <br />Mr. Cattany volunteered to report on fire activity. He noted that there were two active <br />fires burning within the state and eight fires considered to be inactive. <br /> <br />Stefanie Dalgar. Colorado Tourism Office. Tourism Report <br />Ms. Dalgar reported that apparently the Colorado wildfires were having more of an <br />impact on state tourism than the drought. She reported that the rafting connunity was <br />experiencing a 40-50% drop in daily use and a 50% drop in overall revenue. She said <br />that the Arkansas River was still open and there was plenty of rafting activity occurring. <br />In relation to the State Parks, she reported that the total impact is still unknown but that <br />reservations for State Parks were down 30% and cancellations were up 40%. Again she <br />stated that the impact to the summer tourist season would not be know until summers end <br />but noted that the Fourth of July weekend was favorable. <br /> <br />Bob McLavey. Department of Agriculture. Agriculture Report <br />Mr. McLavey reported that the winter wheat crop appeared to be down 50% of normal <br />and it is expected this will be an approximate $100 million loss to the agriculture <br />industry. He continued to say that the state's forage was currently rated at: 60% very <br />poor condition, 32% poor condition, 7% fair condition, 1 % good condition, and zero in <br />excellent condition. He also noted that irrigated farms are nearing the end of their <br />allocation schedules and many crops could be lost this year due to the drought. <br /> <br />Barry Cress. Department of Local Affairs. Municipal Water Report <br />Mr. Cress gave an explanation about a survey being conducted by the Colorado Water <br />Utility Council concerning municipal water supplies and drought. He also explained the <br />he had recently held four workshops on drought and water conservation and had over <br />eighty people in attendance. Some ofthe topics that he wanted to forward from the <br />workshops were, 1) the need for "mentoring" between large and small utilities to improve <br />water conservation and drought information and planning, 2) water systems near the <br />burned areas of the state can be affected and water quality compromised, 3) due to the <br />drought, some water systems are not able to reach predicted revenue levels and may be in <br />need of assistance. <br /> <br />Joe Lambert. Governor's Office of Energy Mgmt and Conservation. Energy Report <br />Mr. Lambert reported that only a couple of electric transmission lines had been lost <br />during the recent wildfires, but that power distribution had not been interupted as result. <br />He noted that energy production was to date mostly unaffected by the current drought. <br />