BOARD01080

• Board Meeting Date: 1/27/2004
• Description: WSP Section - Native Species Trust Fund, Recommendations for FY 2004-05
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

,;colorado Water Resources Research Institute';

TABLE OF CONTENTS

page

An Open Letter on Drought in Colorado ..............................................................................................2

Colorado is a Dry State ........................................................................................................................4

What is Drought? ..... .... ..... ....... ...................... ...... ... ........................ ................ ........ .............. ...... .......... 5

Measuring and Assessing Drought ..................... ............ ................... .... .................. .............................. 6

How Colorado Gets its Water............................................................................................................... 7

Precipitation: Colorados Direct Source of Water ............................................................................... 8

TEXT BOXES:

Colorado s Typical Wet and Dry Seasons by Basin ................................................................. 10
Water Demands in Colorado: How and When We Use Our Water ......................................... 11
Major Water Demands in the Seven Colorado Water Divisions ............................................. 12
The Colorado Drought Response Plan ................................................................................... 13
Summary ofColorados Droughts and Prominent Wet Periods, 1890-1999.......................... 15

Analysis of Historical Wet and Dry Periods in Colorado ................................................................... 14

Red Dawn 11: What May Lie Ahead (Colorado's "Worst Case Scenario" Drought) ......................... 18

Where to Learn More about Drought..................................................................................................19

Colorado State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, veteran status or
disability, or handicap. The University complies with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, related Executive Orders 11246 and 11375,
Title XI of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 402 of the
Vietnam Era Veteran's Readjustment Act ofl974, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, and all civil
rights laws of the State of Colorado. Accordingly, equal opportunity for employment and admission shall be extended to all
persons and the University shall promote equal opportunity and treatment through a positive and continuing affmnative
action program. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in Room 21, Spruce Hall. In order to assist Colorado State
University in meeting its affirmative action responsibilities, ethnic minorities, women, and other protected class members are
encouraged to apply and to so identify themselves.

The contents of this publication are the responsibility of the author(s) alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the
Institute or Colorado State University.

3