Drought and the Commonwealth’s Assessment and Response Plan Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

Drought????

Drought???? Deficiency in precipitation for an extended period of time, generally a season or more Normal, recurrent feature of climate Temporary in nature as opposed to an arid climate Impacts are due to the interplay of the natural event and the societal demands placed on water resources

Types of Drought Meteorological Drought Agricultural Drought Hydrological Drought Socioeconomic (Water Supply) Drought

Executive Order #39, Virginia Water Supply Initiative Issued December 13, 2002 Assure an adequate supply of clean, safe drinking water Prepare a preliminary drought assessment and response plan by April 1, 2003

Drought Response Technical Advisory Committee Composed of 26 individuals representing federal, state, and local government, agriculture, commercial and industrial, and environmental interests TAC received technical support from the existing Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force TAC met three times in February and March 2003 Draft plan is based on review of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina plans

Drought Evaluation Regions

Drought Assessment Plan Drought conditions will be monitored by the DMTF Based on four preliminary indicators –Precipitation Deficits –Streamflows –Ground Water Levels –Reservoir Levels DMTF will review all other available information when making drought recommendations to the Drought Coordinator

Precipitation Deficits

Streamflows

Streamflows NormalGreater 25th percentile Drought Watch10th to 25th percentile Drought Warning5th to 10th percentile Drought EmergencyLess than 5th percentile

Ground Water Levels

NormalGreater 25th percentile Drought Watch10th to 25th percentile Drought Warning5th to 10th percentile Drought EmergencyLess than 5th percentile

Reservoir Levels NormalGreater than 120 days storage Drought Watch90 to 120 days storage Drought Warning60 to 90 days storage Drought EmergencyLess than 60 days storage

Drought Declaration Three stages of drought severity –Drought Watch –Drought Warning –Drought Emergency Declaration of drought watch and warning by Drought Coordinator Declaration of drought emergency by the Governor utilizing an executive order

Drought Watch Climatic conditions indicative that a major drought event is possible Actions initiated to raise public awareness of potential for onset of drought conditions Encourage all public water supplies and major water users to review existing or prepare new drought response plans

Drought Warning Climatic conditions indicative that the onset of a major drought event is imminent Require implementation of drought response plans Typical actions would be voluntary water use restrictions Goal of reducing water use by 5-10%

Drought Emergency Drought has impacted water supplies to the point that unrestricted use is not possible Require implementation of mandatory water use restrictions contained in drought response plans Require mandatory water use restrictions for supplies without drought response plans Goal of reducing water use 10-15%

Mandatory Water Use Restrictions Unrestricted irrigation of lawns and athletic fields Unrestricted irrigation of golf courses Washing paved surfaces Unrestricted vehicle washing Operation of ornamental fountains Unrestricted use of water for swimming pools

Water Rationing May be required when mandatory use restrictions are not sufficient Individual case decision based on impacts to a particular water supply Drought Coordinator will work closely to assure that any available State resources are utilized

Sources of information U.S. Drought Monitor – U.S. Drought Monitor- Virginia – U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook – National Drought Mitigation Center – Virginia Precipitation –

Sources of information Virginia Streamflow and GW levels – Virginia Drought Assessment and Response Plan – Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force