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<br />There is no single accepted definition of drought. But one popular standard defines it as 70 percent of normal <br />. rain or snow for three months straight. <br /> <br />Experts say La Nina, a cooling of Pacific Ocean surface waters, is to blame for recent Warm, dry winters in <br />the Southeast and warm, dry summers in the northern Rocky Mountain states. A northem track taken by <br />high-altitude winds of the jet stream has steered this winter's storms toward the Pacific Northwest and <br />Midwest. Persistent high pressure in the East has also locked out storms. Finally, one of the warmest winters <br />on record in some places on the East Coast is letting water soak into soft ground, instead of running offto <br />replenish surface supplies. <br /> <br />Section 404 Permits: On Jan. 15 the U.S, Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) reissued nationwide permit <br />(NWP) requirements for dredge and fill activities under section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CW A). The <br />new requirements take effect on Mar. 18. Changes in the nationwide permit process were first announced in <br />August 2001. Find the new rules online at: htto://www.access.gpo.gOv/su docs/aces/aces/140.html. For more <br />information on the Corps regulatory program visit www.usace.armv.mil/inet/functions/cw/cecwo/reg. <br /> <br />Senator Criticizes Mouse Plans: Sen. Craig Thomas (R- WY) has issued a statement saying the Prebles <br />Meadow Jumping Mouse Recovery Plan being developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) <br />should not go forward until scientific uncertainty surrounding the subspecies is addressed. The Prebles <br />Meadow jumping mouse was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act by the USFWS in May <br />1998. <br /> <br />Congress Discussing Impacts of Reduced Corps Budget: On Mar. 7 the U.S, House Water Resources and <br />Environment Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss the impacts of a reduced Army Corps of Engineer's <br />(Corps) budget. The Corps' appropriation request in the Administration's FY 2003 budget is $4.29 billion, or <br />about 10 percent less than last year. There is a reduction in each of the major accounts that fund studies (-30 <br />. percent), construction (-16 percent), and operation and maintenance (-2 percent). With the requested funds, <br />the budget gives priority to completing existing studies and projects and redirects funding from the planning <br />and design of new projects and from some projects added by Congress in FY 2002, <br /> <br />Gold Named Regional Director: Reclamation Commissioner John Keys has named Rick Gold to be <br />Regional Director of the Upper Colorado Region. Gold has served as Acting Regional Director for the past <br />year. Gold will oversee Reclamation operations in Utah, New Mexico, western Colorado, and portions of <br />Arizona, Idaho, Texas, and Wyoming. <br /> <br />Reclamation stated that the key issues Gold will face include water deliveries in the Rio Grande and Pecos <br />River systems in Colorado, New Mexico and Texas that must balance competing demands over contracted <br />water for urban and agricultural uses while providing for the protection of endangered fish. Additional <br />concerns include region-wide endangered species recovery implementation programs and the development of <br />the Animas-Las Plata Project in Colorado and New Mexico. <br /> <br />Infrastructure Report Card Gives Infrastructure a "D:" On Mar. 8 the American Society of Civil <br />Engineers (ASCE) released its 2001 Report Card for America's Infrastructure. The Society gave America's <br />water infrastructure a "D" because of investment shortfalls noted by the Water Infrastructure Network <br />(WlN), the EP A, and the American Water Works Association. The ASCE report card assesses twelve <br />illfrastructure categories. The report card notes there are significant needs for infrastructure investment over <br />the next twenty years and that despite these needs, investments have not been sufficient in many <br />communities. <br /> <br />Reclamation's 2003 Budget: The budget Reclamation submitted to Congress is $881,1 million, a decrease <br />. of$33.1 million from 2002. This amount includes: <br /> <br />· Safety of Dams Program -- $81 million . Enhanced security -- $28.4 <br /> <br />5 <br /> <br />I <br />