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<br />, <br />e <br /> <br />Constitutional Amendments <br />Tax Cuts <br />Public Trust Doctrine <br /> <br />Miscellaneous Water Bills <br />Amendments to HB 1414 (Substitute Water Supply) <br />Forest Management/Improve Water Yield <br />Water Leasing including Dry Year Leasing <br />Groundwater - subdistricts <br /> <br />E. Federal Dronght Preparedness Legislation <br />S. 2528, sponsored by Senator Domenicci, is still pending before Congress and is <br />currently in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. This legislation <br />establishes a drought fund to be used for future drought planning efforts and <br />authorizes the National Drought Council to coordinate drought efforts and establishes <br />the National Drought Monitoring Network to enhance national drought monitoring <br />and alert, <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />IV. WATER AVAILABILITY TASK FORCE <br />The Water Availability Task Force (WATF), commonly referred to as the "Drought Task <br />Force", met every month during 2002 to monitor and assess the conditions and impacts of <br />this drought. In April 2002, Governor Owens activated the Colorado Drought Mitigation <br />and Response Plan and requested an immediate activation of the Impact Task Forces. In <br />addition, the Governor requested a report by the Impact Task Forces to determine ifthere <br />was a need for assistance from the General Assembly before the end of the 2002 <br />legislative session in May. <br /> <br />The Water Availability Task Force was instrumental in relaying information from the <br />groups meteorological and water supply experts to the media and general public during <br />the growing drought crisis. <br /> <br />The W A TF is continuing to meet and receive recommendations from its hnpact Task <br />Force groups. The Wildlife Impact Task Force has been especially active and has <br />implemented several recommendations to assist with fisheries management and game <br />management in relation to extreme drought conditions. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />V. WEATHER OUTLOOK <br />EI Nino: Report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agencv (NOAA) <br />The extraordinary Colorado drought of2002 may have reached its peak in August. <br />Although the outlook for the next year is not overly wet, the rains of September may have <br />broken the vicious cycle oflow soil moisture and fire-caused hazy skies that tended to <br />perpetuate our drought through the summer. With a slate thus wiped clear, and a <br />strengthened EI Nino in place, we should have a better chance of realizing the EI Nino- <br /> <br />7 <br />