BOARD01636

• Board Meeting Date: 11/25/2002
• Description: CF Section - Proposed Statute Revisions Construction Fund and Severance Tax Trust Fund Perpetual Base Account
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

. Several communities experienced water supply emergencies requiring special
actions. Those include: Rocky Ford, Belllah, Victor, Cripple Creek, and Penrose.

. Many municipalities implemented restrictions on outside water use.

. Nineteen public water systems reached critical or near-critical water level
designations from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

. There has been an estimated $1.1 billion 'impact to agriculture, tourism, and
recreation from this drought. '

. Dry land wheat production was only 45% of the ten-year average.

. Irrigated com production was 50-85% of average. Dry land com was almost a
total loss.

. Sunflower crop yields down 71 %.

. Cattle breeding stock was reduced by 45,-50% statewide. Southern Colorado
ranchers sold almost 80% of herds. Losses near $460 million.

. Dairies (500 head size) are losing apprdcimately $15,000 to $20,000 per month.

. Outfitters estimate visitation was down 40% with an expected $200 million
impact.

. Fishing license sales were down 93,000 with an $800,000 impact to the Division
of Wildlife.

. Calls were placed early in April and continued throughout the summer. The
Fanners Independent 1865 call in District 2 was the most senior call in that
particular reach of the South Platte in t~e last 35 years.

. The plains irrigation reservoirs east of Denver were empty by the end of August
2002.

. According to tree ring studies, 2002 was the worst year since 1703 in the South
Platte Basin and the driest along the Cqlorado River since 1579.

. Well augmentation entities had to contjnuously acquire additional augmentation
water to deal with the extended call period resulting in a reduction of allowable
pumping by 25%. Some well pumping was curtailed to prevent a violation of
compact delivery requirements. '

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