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<br />r" -- -.. COLORADO- <br />a,,,((J\~ <br /> ':jo""' ,. i~1 <br /> o I!'~ Colorado <br /> ~ .. -l- <br /> . . . <br />~ :; . .. <br />- . <br />< . <br />. ' . Drought Watch rlNATIiftALI <br />'0/ <br /> '" I~ lip <br /> ~ - RE')(XJRCES <br /> April 2, 2002 Drou ht Updates... Issue I. Vol. I <br /> Statewide Snowpack 52% of Average Bill Owens <br /> as of April 2, 2002 Governor <br /> STAT&\IOE AVERAGE <br /> 1 j I I I I 'I I Greg E. Walcher <br /> , E:recutive Director <br /> 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% <br /> Rod Kuharich <br /> CWCB Director <br /> Dry Conditions Affecting Color"ado Agriculture. Drought-like condi. <br /> tions are responsible for more than one-third of Colorado's eastern plains win- <br /> ter wheat crop to be rated in poor condition and may be threatening some <br /> summer crops. As the state moves closer to the summer months. livestock <br /> forage and irrigation water may also be threatened jf current dry conditions <br /> continue. <br /> QrQy2ht Facts: <br /> . Oroul:ht occurs "hen <br /> Fire Activity Increasing. The first forest wildfire of the year occurred on the demand for water <br /> April I. 2002 in the Pike National Forest. Fires have also occurred on the el('eed~ the a,"ailable <br /> eastern plains in Phillips, Kit Carson. EI Paso. and Prowers counties" Dry con- supply of water, and <br /> itbt)'pkall) <br /> ditions and wind are being cited as contributors to the quickly spreading Koko. associaled with a <br /> pelli fire in central New Mexico. which destroyed 28 homes. Several other defidencyof <br /> fires continue to burn in New Mexico. Fire Danger is rated "very high" across prrdpit3lion <br /> most of Colorado. according to the National Interagency Fire Center. <br /> . This is the fourth <br /> Montana Declares Drought Disaster. Agriculture Secretary Ann Vene- straight winter of <br /> below normal <br /> man declared the entire state of Montana a drought disaster area on March water conditions. <br /> 28th. The designation clears the way for farmers and ranchers affected by . Drought can occur <br /> drought to receive emergency loans or other assistance. According to the U.S. locally, statewide, <br /> Drought Monitor, drought conditions exist across a wide area of the state, or regionally. <br /> with Central Montana hardest hit. <br /> . After prolonged <br /> periods of drought, <br /> State Launches Drought Study. The Colorado Water Conservation soil moisture levels <br /> may be slow to <br /> Board has initiated a statewide drought planning assessment to determine return to normal, <br /> Colorado's preparedness level for drought. The assessment will help deter- even if precipitation <br /> mine the status of the state.s water suppliers' water storage and identify how levels increase. <br /> the CWCB can support water suppliers in planning for and mitigating the im. <br /> pacts of drought. For more information, go to: www.cwcb.state.co.us <br />