Hydrologic Drought
by Eric Peterson
WELL,
2003 IS SHAPING UP TO BE ANOTHER YEAR OF DROUGHT , HYDROLOGICALLY SPEAKING.
BY
HYDROLOGICAL, I MEAN THE WATER IN OUR STREAMS AND RESERVOIRS.
THOUGH
SPRING PRECIPITATION IS NEAR NORMAL, WE CONTINUE TO FEEL THE IMPACT OF DROUGHT
IN OUR WATER STORAGE SYSTEM.
I'M
HERE TODAY AT PATHFINDER RESERVOIR AND YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ARE A LONG WAY FROM
WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ON THIS PARTICULAR RESERVOIR. AND THIS IS JUST A
SINGLE UNIT IN AN EXTENSIVE WATER STORAGE SYSTEM.
DROUGHT
IS FELT FIRST IN UPLAND AREAS. THEY ARE ALSO THE FIRST TO RECOVER.
BUT
IT TAKES LOTS OF WATER - ABOVE AVERAGE RUNOFF TO REFILL OUR RESERVOIRS.
THE
EXPERTS TELL US THAT TO RECHARGE THIS SYSTEM WE NEED RUNOFF OF FIFTY PERCENT
ABOVE AVERAGE TO GET BACK TO NORMAL.
SO
EVEN THOUGH WE SEE GREEN GRASS, WE WILL CONTINUE THIS YEAR TO FEELS THE EFFECTS
OF DROUGHT BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF STORED WATER TO CITY DWELLERS AND
AGRICULTURE. THOSE WERE THE REASONS WE BUILT RESERVOIRS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
FROM
THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE, I'M ERIC PETERSON.