Drought is a term that designates a period associated with a deficiency of precipitation. Unlike other natural hazards with negative manifestations, drought looks like beautiful, sunny weather. What can be wrong with that? Well, it can be very wrong, if the period occurs during a season that should bring precipitation.
Drought cannot be anticipated, nor followed on a map, like a hurricane; we cannot know for sure when it starts or when it ends.
Colorado has a recorded history of drought. A severe period like this occurred in the winter of 1976-1977. Everybody expected snow, but instead there were only bare ski slopes and empty reservoirs that affected the state`s economy.
The crisis was assessed and there were ideas proposed to manage the impact of a drought period on recreation-based industries and agriculture, but the next year was normal again and the proposed actions were forgotten. Not for too long however, because another drought period has hit Colorado in the winter of 1980-1981. This time, the Governor hired experts who created the “Colorado Drought Response Plan” which established drought monitoring and response mechanisms during a crisis. In most cities it is recommended to have xeroscape and if planting grass, they recommend drought tolerant grass that decreases water usage.
This year, U.S. Department of Agriculture declared seven counties in the state disaster areas because of drought.