Contact
Phil Rosenlund
University Extension Agent
310 West 19th
St. Suite 100
Cheyenne, WY. 82001
307 633-4383
Despite predictions that not all of the state faces drought conditions, the Wyoming Drought Management Task Force continues to put mechanism in place to better respond to problems.
" The recent moisture across parts of Wyoming does not reduce the need for the drought task force's work," said Ron Micheli, Co- chair of the drought task force and director of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture. "Not all areas will experience drought conditions at the same time. Wyoming needs to be pro-active and anticipate the dry weather conditions' and impact on the state's economy".
The North and West parts of the state are currently suffering from very dry conditions. We will need to monitor these conditions from week to week to determine what action we need to take. The precipitation that we have been getting here in the southeast part of the state has not move throughout the state.
As part of the task force, local, state and federal agencies have been drafting a statewide drought plan that will help Wyoming be better prepared than last year to address drought-related problems. This past year, the drought subcommittees have met to discuss drought response in areas of tourism, agriculture, wildfire management, and municipal water supplies.
The drought plan should be complete by June 1, 2001, said Bill Gentle, Director of State Parks. This plan will be a dynamic document and it will continue to change as needs for the state change. Gov. Jim Geringer convened the task force last summer to coordinate drought assistance responses by state, local and federal agencies and to communicate drought related information to the public.
Completion of drought plan said Tom Osterman co-chair of the drought task force and the State Forester, will help all agencies find and follow guidelines and directives to deal with drought in their areas. This plan will be available on the drought web page at www.uwyo.ed/ces/main_drought.html.
Snowpack levels continue to be below average for the year. Recent moisture has improved snow pack in the south and east parts of the state. Below average runoff from the mountains areas of Wyoming is still being forecast for this spring and summer.
According to Wyoming Statistical Reporting Service, soil moisture was short in 46% of the state. Only light precipitation was reported in western and northern parts of the state last week. Range and pasture conditions were reported as good in 29% of the state. The five year average for good range and pasture conditions is 72% at this time of the year.
Areas of the state showing the greatest departure from normal precipitation are Afton with (-3.61 inches), Jackson (-3.61 inches), Lander (- 2.51 inches), Rock Springs (-2.50 inches) and Casper (-2.50 inches).
Communication is a vital during dry conditions in the state, said Laurie Green, Director of Wyoming division of Tourism. A new networking system has been developed this year to improve communications to the general public and also for out- of-state inquiries. This crisis communication plan was developed this past year in the Tourism division. This plan will stream- line its ability of the department to answer people questions about travel in Wyoming.
For more information on the task force and drought conditions in Wyoming, please visit www.uwyo.edu/ces/drought/drought_main.html
Sub committee chairs
-Agricultural and Natural
Resource Sub-Group
Chair Grant Stumbough 777-7321
- Drinking Water, Health
and Energy Implementation Sub-Group
Chair Gary Beach 777-7937
- Wildfire Protection Sub-Group
Chair Tom Osterman 777-7586
- Tourism and Economic Implementation
Sub- Group
Chair Laurie Green 777-7777
Communication Implementation
Sub-Group
Chair Phil Rosenlund 633-4383