99% Of Colorado Now In Drought; 50% Experiencing Level 3 (Extreme) Conditions, 2.6% At Level 4 [View all]

[hatrack]

Last week's values from the UNL Drought Monitor

https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?CO

EDIT

Record-breaking temperatures across the state last month and lower-than-average precipitation prompted Gov. Jared Polis to initiate a Colorado Drought Mitigation and Response Plan in 40 of the state's 64 counties in June, according to a news release this week from his office. But with drought conditions increasing, Polis on Thursday announced he would extend the plan into the remaining 24 counties, including Boulder County. "All of these counties are experiencing severe or extreme drought as classified by the U.S. Drought Monitor," the release read. "If present trends continue and other sectors of the state's economy become notably affected, additional impact task forces may be activated."

Polis called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide emergency relief aid to Colorado farmers, who he said have suffered across Colorado's four corners. In a letter to Sonny Perdue, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Polis described deteriorating soil conditions, pest pressures and depleting groundwater. Specifically in southeastern Colorado, he said "dust bowl-like" conditions have swept normally productive soil into the air, suffocating livestock in brown clouds.

"Following a deceptively average winter snowpack (104% of normal), many producers did not opt for early-season preventative planting, impacting crop insurance eligibility once drought set in after record hot spring temperatures," Polis wrote in the letter.

The National Integrated Drought Information System shows that 99% of Colorado is in a drought, with 50.3% of the state in extreme drought conditions, as of Thursday, when the map is updated weekly. The majority of Boulder County is among the 36.4% of the state in severe drought conditions (with a small portion in moderate); .7% of the state is abnormally dry; 10% of the state is moderately dry; and 2.6% of the state is exceptionally dry. Nationally, 35.8% of the U.S. is in a drought.

EDIT

https://insurancenewsnet.com/oarticle/boulder-county-is-among-nearly-40-of-the-state-experiencing-severe-drought-communities-look-at-ways-to-adapt-to-a-drier-climate#.X3sd7XV7lph