Interagency Coordinating Group
Previous Meetings

 

May 9, 2011 Meeting

The following reports were provided by the Salt River Project (SRP) on the Salt and Verde watersheds, the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) on the Colorado River basin, the State Drought Monitoring Technical Committee on climate conditions, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service  on livestock water and forage conditions. A few of the main points are described below:


• Although the Verde and Salt reservoir systems are currently 86% full and increases in the Colorado River reservoirs will forestall drought-related water rationing in Arizona until 2015 or later, data show that much of the state remains in drought conditions.


• Normal to extreme long-term drought conditions occur across the state, with the driest conditions in the southeastern part of the state. Only Mohave County and the western edge of La Paz County are characterized as not experiencing drought at this time.


• Of the previous four years, only 2010 was a wetter than average year and did not reverse the effects of the previous dry years. In fact, long-term drought status is worse for most watersheds.


• According to the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) Field Offices, less than 64% of normal forage production will occur in 2011. They also reported shortages in livestock water around the state and irrigation water shortages that could result in crop production losses ranging from 10 to 80 percent. In addition to poor rangeland conditions, native desert vegetation also exhibits signs of stress, especially in the western and southern counties.

The updates confirmed that although reservoirs supplying western and central Arizona are adequate, all of Arizona’s watersheds except the Lower Gila and Lower Colorado remain in long-term drought. Based on this information, the ICG made a unanimous decision to recommend that both drought declarations be kept in place.

May 23, 2011 Recommendation to the Office of Governor Janice K. Brewer

November 10, 2010 Meeting

The State Drought Monitoring Technical Committee’s annual update showed that there was a significant improvement in long-term drought conditions compared to a year ago. Most of the improvement is due to the wet winter, however, the 2010 summer was also wetter than average in most of Arizona’s watersheds. Currently four watersheds have no drought, six watersheds are abnormally dry, and five watersheds are in moderate drought.

Precipitation forecasts for Arizona for the upcoming winter and spring seasons are bleak with a strong La Nina event underway in the Pacific Ocean. La Nina will likely result in increased probabilities for above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation. Widespread moderate to severe drought conditions may develop by later this spring.

The Arizona State Forestry Division and Arizona Game and Fish Department provided their annual updates on forest health and impacts to wildlife. The University of Arizona also presented on drought impacts reported through Arizona DroughtWatch (http://azdroughtwatch.org/), a drought impact reporting system developed by the University, in conjunction with ADWR. The reports showed the following:

  • Many parts of the state are still suffering from long-term precipitation deficits that affect vegetation health and water supplies.
  • Wildlife habitat is still in poor condition after many years of drought.
  • Concern for next spring is the potential for bark beetles to infest the forests damaged from the tornados in northern Arizona, and kill surrounding standing ponderosa pines, followed by fires once all the material has dried out. More on forest health conditions.

Based on this information, the ICG made a unanimous decision to recommend that both drought declarations be kept in place.

        

May 7, 2010 Meeting
The following reports were provided by the Salt River Project (SRP) on the Salt and Verde watersheds, the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) on the Colorado River basin, and the State Drought Monitoring Technical Committee on climate conditions. A few of the main points are described below and form the basis of the ICG’s recommendation:

  • Although the Verde and Salt reservoir systems are full, the Colorado reservoir system, which provides 40% of Arizona’s water supply, is still well below its average level.
  • Data show normal to severe long-term drought conditions across the state.
  • Precipitation totals have been below normal:
    o In the Salt Watershed - 9 of the past 17 years
    o In the Little Colorado Watershed - 12 of the past 17 years
    o In the Santa Cruz Watershed - 12 of the past 17 years
    o In the Upper Gila Watershed - 10 of the past 14 years
  • Although this winter was wetter than average, long-term drought status, in comparison to last year, is worse for most of Arizona’s watersheds due to below average precipitation over the last four years.

The updates confirmed that although winter precipitation was above average, all of Arizona’s watersheds except the Lower Gila remain in long-term drought. Based on this information, the ICG made a unanimous decision to recommend that both drought declarations be kept in place.


October 29, 2009 Meeting

The following reports formed the basis of the ICG's recommendation to maintain both drought declarations (Drought Emergency PCA 99006 & Drought Declaration Executive Order 2007-10):

The State Drought Monitoring Technical Committee’s annual update showed that long-term drought conditions are much worse than they have been in recent years. During the water year, precipitation was below 70% of average for most of the state. Nearly half of the state is currently in severe drought.

The Arizona State Forestry Division, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Arizona Game and Fish Department provided their annual updates on forest and rangeland health and impacts to wildlife, which showed the following:

  • Many parts of the state are still suffering from long-term precipitation deficits, which affect vegetation health, wildlife and livestock, water supplies (low-producing springs, surface water flows and well production), and range and pasture conditions.
  • 216,818 acres of wildland fire burned in 2009, the most acres burned since 2005. Lack of regenerative fires and long-term drought are considered major factors in the decline of aspen trees, especially those stands growing at the lower elevations (see 2009 Forest Health Condition Highlights for more information).
  • Impacts due to long-term drought are resulting in crop losses, irrigation water shortages, livestock water and forage shortages and water hauling.
  • Wildlife habitat is still in poor condition after many years of drought.

 

April 21 , 2009 Meeting

Reports were provided by the Salt River Project (SRP) on the Salt and Verde watersheds, the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) on the Colorado River basin, and the State Drought Monitoring Technical Committee on climate conditions. A few of the main points are described below and form the basis of the ICG’s recommendation:

  • Although the Verde and Salt reservoir systems are nearly full, the Colorado reservoir system, which provides 40% of Arizona’s water supply, is still well below its average level.
  • Data show abnormally dry to moderate long-term drought conditions across the state.
  • Precipitation totals have been below normal:
    • In Prescott - 13 of the past 14 years
    • In Springerville - eight of the past 14 years
    • In Flagstaff - 11 of the past 14 years
    • In Phoenix and Tucson - 12 of the past 14 years
  • Winter precipitation amounts have been well below average statewide.
  • In comparison to last year, drought status in a few watersheds has improved; however, precipitation over the last four years has generally been below average for most of Arizona’s watersheds.

The group decided during last year’s spring meeting that Arizona would need at least three consecutive wet winters to consider discontinuing the drought declarations, and unfortunately that did not occur. The updates confirmed that although winter precipitation looked good at the beginning of the season, the winter of 2008 - 2009 turned out to be drier than average. Based on this information, the ICG made a unanimous decision to recommend that both drought declarations be kept in place:

  • Drought Emergency Declaration (PCA 99006) has been in effect since June 1999 and maintains the state’s ability to provide emergency response if needed. It also enables farmers and ranchers to obtain funding assistance through the Farm Service Agency if they experience production losses due to drought.
  • The Drought Declaration for the State of Arizona (Executive Order 2007-10) was issued in May 2007 to raise awareness of Arizona’s continuing long-term drought and encourage conservation.

November 4, 2008 meeting presentations

State Drought Monitoring Technical Committee

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Arizona Game and Fish Department

Recommendation to Governor

Press Release

April 29, 2008 meeting presentations

Recommendation to maintain drought declarations

 

October 25, 2007 meeting presentations

Recommendation to maintain the Drought Emergency Declaration and Drought Declaration for the State of Arizona    (50KB)