Historic Drought Documents

August 27, 1936

Dear Mr. President:

We have the honor to submit herewith our report on the essentials of a long-time program looking towards betterment of economic conditions in the Great Plains Drought Area.

The economic deterioration of communities, with loss of public credit, suspension of schools, neglect of roads and a general decline of community activities, is more difficult to measure, but its reality is apparent to any one who studies or even visits the region.

The dust storms of 1934 and 1935 have been visible evidence to nearly every American living east of the Rocky Mountains that something is seriously wrong. The extent of erosion on the Great Plains has not yet been accurately measured. It is safe to say that 80 per cent is now in some stage of erosion. As much as 15 per cent may already have been seriously and permanently injured.

This is a situation that will not by any possibility cure itself. A series of wet years might postpone the destructive process, yet in the end, by raising false hopes and by encouraging renewal of mistaken agricultural practices, might accelerate it. Our precipitation records are insufficient to permit reliable prophecy.

Over 20 years ago, the severe winter drought of 1976-77 sent shock waves through Colorado's economy and state government. Bare ski slopes, empty reservoirs, and drifts of topsoil left many of us in government feeling helpless and ill prepared. At that time, Governor Richard Lamm convened a special council of experts who assessed the crisis and proposed ideas for lessening the impacts on recreation-based industries and agriculture.

The "Colorado Drought Response Plan" was approved and implemented. While it is arguable that this plan could immediately reduce drought impacts, what the plan did accomplish was to identify drought as a major natural hazard in Colorado and to establish clear mechanisms for monitoring drought conditions and impacts, and communicate water supply and drought impact information to decision makers. Colorado was one of the first states to institutionalize drought monitoring and response, and has been very active ever since in promoting research and encouraging drought mitigation efforts.

This report describes some of the new techniques for drought monitoring that have been developed in Colorado, and presents results of drought studies which have been supported by the Colorado Office of Emergency Management, the Colorado Water Resources Research Institute and the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station.

Since the "Colorado Drought Response Plan" was implemented in 1981, Colorado has enjoyed the longest period free from widespread multi-year droughts since before the 1930s "Dustbowl." Yes, we now have better information about drought and improved data on the frequency and severity of droughts from the past. But with the very generous precipitation for the period 1982-1999, are we ready and able to deal with drought and its consequences?