BOARD01728

• Board Meeting Date: 3/24/2003
• Description: OWC Section - Drought Impact and Mitigation Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone, [phone]
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us

MEMORANDUM

Bill Owens
Governor

Greg E. Walcher
Executive Director

TO:

Rod Kuharich
CWCB Director

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

FROM:

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

Brad Lundahl; Chief, Conservation and Drought Planning Section

DATE: March 3, 2003

SUBJECT: Agenda Item 8-- 2003 Drought Impact and Mitigation Report

In January, 2003, the CWCB staff began consideration of a short-term drought response and
mitigation plan to address the probable impacts to Colorado ifthe effects of the current drought
cycle were to continue into the Spring and Summer of 2003.

Concurrently, the Water Availability Task Force members decided, at their January meeting, that the
effects of the current severe drought cycle were more than likely going to continue for the remainder
of the year. As chairman of the Task Force, I requested that the Impact Task Forces, who are
subgroups responsible for drought impact assessment, convene and begin preparations of a Drought
Impact and Mitigation Report for 2003. In the report, I requested that the groups consider the
drought impacts of 2002 in making their analysis and preparation of an appropriate response plan for
2003.

A copy of the report is available for your review and discussion.

Flood Protection. Water Supply Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation and Drought Planning