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<br />the San Luis valley in particular, since it has recovered the least from recent drought conditions, derives a lot of its <br />annual moisture from the sunmler monsoon, and now faces the lowest odds of a wet sunmler in the interior <br />southwestern u.S. <br /> <br />4. Bottomline: Consistent with El Nino expectations, Colorado experienced a wet falL a dry winter, and a wet spring <br />in much of the state. Compared to Arizona and New Mexico, Colorado has staged a good recovery from last year's <br />severe drought. For the remainder of sunmler, (July-September), the likelihood of renewed drought conditions is <br />slightly enhanced over south-central Colorado into New Mexico, but the eastern plains of New Mexico and <br />Colorado have a good chance of fairing better (wetter) than average in the upcoming months. Should El Nino <br />complete its comeback this fall, much of the southwestern U.S. would have a decent shot at recovering further from <br />the drought." <br /> <br />Impact Task Force Reports <br /> <br />Barry Cress, Department of Local Affairs <br />Mr. Cress stated that the water systems were not having many problems like they had last year. <br />He said that most systems that were having problems last year ended up getting the funding they <br />needed. They received financial help through the Department of Health, Colorado Water <br />Conservation Board, and the Department of Local Affairs. Mr. Cress also mentioned that there <br />was money available from a Water Quality grant for those people who had drought related water <br />problems. July 15, 2003 was the deadline for the "SET" grant money. Mr. Cress said there were <br />quite a few applications and the money would be allocated in the next couple weeks. <br /> <br />Joe Lambert, Energv <br />Mr. Lambert reported that the energy failures were not drought related, but demand only because <br />of the hot heat. He also said the fire danger was not near where it was last year. <br /> <br />Mary Halstead, Wildlife <br />Ms. Halstead reported that DOW was reprioritizing their fish stock. They lost some fish from <br />the heat but nothing to significant. The fawn production is down; there aren't as many fawns this <br />year as last year, but the fishing is good. <br /> <br />Brett Rodewald, Colorado Parks Recreation Assn. <br />Mr. Rodewald reported that the athletic fields didn't have to be closed because of the moisture <br />from the big snowstonu. The heat is beginning to affect the park lawns, but they are working <br />with the different water restrictions. <br /> <br />Agriculture <br />Reagan Waskom, CSU Cooperative Extension, gave us an agriculture update. He stated that <br />there was an increase in irrigated wheat for this year and that it was looking good. Last year we <br />harvested the weakest crop since 1968. He indicated the northeaster and central plains wheat <br />crop was good, and the farmers had made an adjustment to grow wheat instead of corn because <br />