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<br />WATF Co.Cbairs <br />Jack Byers, Deputy State Engineer, Division of Water Resources (DWR) commenced the meeting and <br />introduced VevaMcCaig, Section Chief for tbe C\-VCS's Office of Water Conservation &: Drougbt <br />Planning. Vlitb Jack Byers, sbe will co-cbair the \-Vater Availability Task Force (W ATF). <br /> <br />1\1r, Byers discllssed tbe current efforts by the co-cbairs and W ATF members to improve tbe <br />communication and coordination with tbe Governor's office regarding findings of the \Vater Availability <br />Task Force and issues and concemsrai sed by the impact task forces_ Fmther discussed was tbe <br />importance and need for more dialogue between the meeting presenters and the rest oUbe \V ATF as to <br />bow to effectively carry out tbe objectives of the Colorado Drought Response Plan. <br /> <br />Veva l\1cCaig explained the need to create more opportunities f()r tbe impact task forces to share <br />information at the \-VATF meetings. \-Vhile tbe impact task forces are not officially mobilized unless tbe <br />State is in a declared drought, it is vital they participate and contribute pertinent information about their <br />sectors at tbe W ATF meetings. The co-.cbairs are also working to respond to a request frout tbe <br />Govemor's offke for infonnation on tbe status of tbe State's water availability. Tbe mecbanism for such <br />response has yet to be determined as well as tbe frequency of updates. It may be in tbe form of montbly <br />or quarterly reports. The task force co-chairs are also working with NOAA to gain a greater <br />understanding of tbe available forecasting tools tbat NOAA uses. This cooperative df01t will result in <br />presenting tbe best forecasting information in a user-friendly f()TInat at futureWATF meetings. <br /> <br />.Report froTH the C1overnor's Office <br />A representative frotH the Clovernor's Oftlce \vas not in attendance. ]]owever Frank J\'1cNu.1ty: trorn the <br />J)epartlnent ofN-aWral Hcsources1 (DNR) Executive Dlrecto:r1s Office, prov]ded SOIne infonnat]OHo <br />DNR's Policy Analyst, Dennis Hlis, is now the Director f01 the State Department of Health. He will <br />continue to \vork \virh the \VATIi in his ne'v\? capacity. The nc'\v Budget/Policy Analyst for DNRis Jason <br />13rlnkleYl and be 'wiH be llsing his knov~.'ledge of-v/ater lsslles to 'work 'with the ",\r/\T'F in the future <br /> <br />Report froIn the State Chtnatolo}!lS[ <br />.Nolan l)oesken ann()unced rhat this is the 25th anniversm:y of the \-\rater A..vailahihty T'ask Iiorce. <br />Tnf(}nnation for bis presentation carne frorn the COlorado Cblnate Center at Colorado State University <br />I)eceInber 2005 vi/as ",vanner than average~ and precipitation srarc\vide was slightly above average. <br />Ternperatures for the current 'water year are not tlr frorn average. <br /> <br />'the 3.-rDontb Stawial'dPrecipitarion lndex (S1'>I) sbo\\!s to be \.'Cry dry. '.H(nvever, October 2005 ;.vas \,/et. <br />P,lllS of Colorado .have .had. Etrle precipitarion in the lastt\vo Inonths. <br /> <br />The 6-rnonth S.PT indicates thatvi/et conditions in October 2005 \vere beneficial to tbe eastern pJains. <br />\\\thout this precipitation, tbis area \vollld currently be experiencing dryer conditions. <br /> <br />'l'h.e 12-1nonth. SPT indicares fa'iJo:rahle conditions\vith rhe only dTY areas being rhe Colorado Sp:rings <br />E\kes Peak region and a mnaE portion in soutbeas[ern Colorado. <br /> <br />'The 24--1nonlh Sr~I sho\vs a Hllxture of conditlons. <br /> <br />.Tbe 48.-rnontb S~PT indicates COlorado is still experi.encing the consequences of the 2002 dxougb[ .Tbe <br /> <br />2002 droughJ \viU seeln to disappear frorn the krng.-terrn dToughr scah~ if Co~orado stays so!newhere near <br /> <br />norrnal precl pitation. <br />