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<br />_t.' <br /> <br /> <br />Colorado <br />Drought Watch <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />May 8, 2002 Drou <br /> <br /> <br />dates... <br /> <br /> <br />Statewide Snowpack is 14-1. of Average <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />"" <br /> <br />'"" <br /> <br />"'" <br /> <br />,.,. <br /> <br />". <br /> <br />'"" <br /> <br />'" <br /> <br />'"" <br /> <br />'"" <br /> <br />.... <br /> <br />100% <br /> <br />Governor Declares Drought Emergency <br /> <br />On April 22. 2002 Governor Bill Owens sent a letter to U.S. Department of <br />Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman requesting an emergency drought disaster <br />designation for the entire State of Colorado. In the letter, Governor Owens <br />recognized the effect of the current drought on Colorado's ranching and farm- <br />ing communities. Under disaster status. low-interest federal loans should be <br />made available to impacted ranchers and farmers. The Governor also issued <br />an executive order to make funds available for wildfire suppression activities. <br /> <br />State Drought Plan Activated <br /> <br />On April 22, 2002. Governor Owens sent a letter to the Water Availability <br />Task Force requesting that the Colorado Drought Mitigation and Response <br />Plan be activated. This is the first time in that the "Drought Plan" has been <br />fully activated. Once activated. the Plan requires several Impact Task Forces to <br />form and assess any perceived drought impact on various sectors of Colo- <br />rado's environment and economy. The Governor requested that the Impact <br />Task Force groups meet and report back to him by May I, 2002. For a copy of <br />the Task Force recommendations go to: www.colorado.~ov <br /> <br />Wildfire <br /> <br />Colorado is in the fourth year of below normal precipitation creating ex- <br />tremely dangerous wildfire conditions. To date. there have been four hundred <br />and twenty-four fires in Colorado burning more than fifteen thousand acres. <br /> <br />DroughtIWildfire Legislation <br /> <br />In response to drought task force recommendations, Governor Owens is <br />pushing legislation to increase penalties for anyone who sets wildfires during <br />times of drought emergencies. HB 02-1470 is being sponsored by Representa- <br />tive Gregg Rippy of Glenwood Springs, and Senator Jack Taylor of Steamboat <br />Springs. For a copy of HB 02-1470 go to: www.leg.state.co.us <br /> <br />For updates on Fires and Drought go to: www.colorado.gov <br /> <br />COLOlwx5 <br /> <br />.~ <br />OEPARIMENf Of <br />NATURAU <br />RESOURCES <br /> <br />Issue 3, Vol. I <br /> <br />Bill Ow~ns <br /> <br />Gov~mor <br /> <br />Gr~g E. Walcher <br />EllCculive Dir~ctor <br /> <br />Rod Kuharit:h <br />CWCB Oir~ccor <br /> <br />www.cwcb.statc.co.us <br /> <br />Drought Facts: <br />- Orought occurs when <br />thetlemand for water <br />exceetl~ the a\'ailable <br />~uppl,., of water, and <br />it Is IJPically <br />a~sociated with a <br />defidencyof <br />prl'cipifalion <br /> <br />- This is the fourth <br />straight winter of <br />below normal <br />water conditions. <br /> <br />- Drought can occur <br />locally, statewide, <br />or regionally. <br /> <br />- After prolonged <br />periods of drought. <br />soil moisture levels <br />may be slow to <br />return to normal, <br />even if precipitation <br />levels increase. <br />