Colorado Gov. Jared Polis Declares Statewide Drought Emergency
The declaration lets Colorado coordinate agencies, reduce state water use and seek federal aid as nearly 93% of the state faces drought, officials said.
- On Thursday, Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued a statewide drought emergency declaration and activated Phase 3 of the state's Drought Response Plan to address record-low snowpack and prolonged warm temperatures.
- Record-Low snowpack peaked unusually early in March at 51% of median, followed by rapid melt-off due to record-high temperatures, according to Lauren Ris, Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board.
- Nearly 93% of the state currently experiences moderate to exceptional drought, prompting Denver Water to drain the Antero Reservoir earlier this month to conserve roughly 5,000-acre feet of water.
- Phase 3 allows the Colorado Drought Task Force to coordinate interagency responses and reduce water usage at state facilities while potentially seeking federal emergency funding for farmers, ranchers, and water providers.
- Climate experts warn El Niño patterns offer no guarantee of drought relief, while Colorado's annual snowmelt feeds water supplies for nearly 20 downstream states and parts of Mexico facing similar scarcity.
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Gov. Polis declares statewide drought emergency
Colorado's drought-stricken Blue Mesa Reservoir near Gunnison is pictured on May 30, 2021. (Photo by Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline)Gov. Jared Polis declared a statewide drought emergency Thursday in response to Colorado’s warmest winter on record, which also brought record-low snowpack. The U.S. Drought Monitor says nearly 93% of the state is in moderate to exceptional drought conditions, with 75% in at least severe conditions as of Thursday…
Denver Post
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis declares statewide drought emergency
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday declared a drought emergency as this winter's record-low snowpack and abnormally warm spring fuel one of the worst statewide droughts on record.
Colorado declares statewide drought emergency
Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday issued a statewide drought emergency declaration, potentially freeing up additional state funding for the state’s response to record-low snowpack and prolonged warm temperatures across Colorado. Colorado’s snowpack peaked in early March about a month earlier than usual and at the lowest level since 1987. Farmers, ranchers, fishing and rafting outfitters, and cities and reservoir managers are already feeling the impac…
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