Drought task force plan completed

CHEYENNE - Gov. Jim Geringer announced the completion of the state drought  task force plan, which provides coordination guidelines between local, state  and federal agencies.

Geringer convened Wyoming Drought Management TAsk Force last summer to  coordinate drought assistance responses and to communicate drought related  information to the public.  Throughout the year, about 25 agencies worked  together to develop the plan.  The plan, a working document, is located on  the University of Wyoming's drought page at  www.uwyo.edu/ces/drought/drought_main.html.

"The plan takes a proactive approach in helping Wyoming be better prepared  to address drought-related problems," Geringer said.  "Through the plan,  agencies can anticipate problems caused by drought and deal with them ahead  of time.  We did not want to wait until something happens."

Part of the task force's  efforts has focused on establishing several  monitoring and subgroups to keep track of drought conditions.  Among these  groups are:  Agriculture and Natural Resources; Drinking Water, Health and  Energy; Wildfire protection; Tourism and Economics; and Communications.

"Unlike last year where the state had a fairly generalized drought  situation, this year's situation is a little more up and down, though most  of the state is dry," said Ron Micheli, co-chair of the task force and  director of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture.  "We are okay this year,  but there might be problems if we do not get enought snow this winter."

"The drought plan will help local, state and federal agencies mitigate  present and furture drought conditions," said state Forester Tom Osterman,  who co-cahirs the task force with Micheli.  "The plan lists contacts and web  sites to find information on drought and assistance programs."

The task force recently listened to reports from different agencies that  have been monitoring drought conditions in Wyoming.  Reports centered on the  severity of the drought in different parts of the state.  U.S. Geological  Survey (USGS) and Bureau of Reclamation reported that record lows in stream  flows and reservoir supplies are occuring this year.  Stream flow during  July shows the persistence of the drought throughout the Western two-thirds  of Wyoming.   USGS records show stream flows from 15 to 32 percent of  normal.

"We have seen two of the four streamflow-gaging sites set new records for  lows for the July Average," said Kirk Miller, USGS hydrologist.  "The record  stood for 71 years on the Tongue River and 48 years on the Fontenelle Creek.   Natural Resource Conservation Service reported that all of Wyoming's  basins are below normal in precipitation and stream flow this summer."

Counties currently asking for drought disaster designation are Park,  Lincoln, Johnson, Campbell, Washakie and Arapaho Indian Reservation.  Some  communities are asking city and town residents to cut back on their watering  uses, as a means of conservation.