Today, with record-breaking warm temperatures and low snowpack across Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis activated the state’s Drought Task Force and Phase 2 of Colorado’s Drought Response Plan. Acting on recommendations from the state’s Water Conditions Monitoring Committee and partner agencies, the task force will help the state better understand and elevate the local, regional and sector-specific impacts of worsening drought conditions.
“Colorado is experiencing the warmest year so far in our 131-year record, and one of the driest,” said Polis. “Activating the Drought Task Force will help ensure we are protecting one of our most precious resources by closely tracking impacts, supporting communities and coordinating better as we prepare for the year ahead.”
The Drought Task Force, last activated in 2020, brings together senior leadership from key state agencies, including the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Colorado Department of Agriculture, Department of Local Affairs, and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The group assesses drought conditions statewide, elevates local impacts to state leadership, and can convene regional or sector-specific workgroups to gather information and share resources.
“The Drought Task Force allows us to bring together experts from across the state to share information and better understand how drought is impacting communities across Colorado,” said Dan Gibbs, executive director of the Department of Natural Resources. “By coordinating across agencies and with local partners, we can more effectively elevate emerging impacts and ensure communities have the information and resources they need to respond.”
Activation of the Drought Task Force is critical in light of this year’s severe drought conditions. Temperatures since October mark the warmest start to a water year in the Colorado Climate Center’s 131-year record, and statewide snow water equivalent currently ranks among the lowest in more than four decades of records. About one-third of Colorado is experiencing severe drought or worse, with extreme and exceptional drought persisting in parts of the Colorado River headwaters region.
“Drought does not impact every community in the same way,” said Lauren Ris, Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) director. “The Drought Task Force helps the state understand where impacts are being felt the most and elevates those local challenges so we can better coordinate response and support communities across Colorado.”
The CWCB’s Water Conditions Monitoring Committee will continue tracking drought indicators including snowpack, precipitation, temperature, streamflow, soil moisture and reservoir storage. If conditions continue to worsen, the governor may move the state into Phase 3 of the Drought Response Plan, which includes an official drought declaration.
>