Click on the thumbnail graphic for the October 18 Drought Outlook from NOAA.
From the Sterling Journal-Advocate (Sara Waite):
The U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook map from NOAA for Oct. 18, 2012 through Jan. 31, 2013, shows drought persisting or intensifying across much of the Midwest and West during that time frame, while drought development is considered likely in the Northwest.
Recent moisture has lowered the drought severity in southern Logan County from exceptional to extreme, and parts of Colorado have improved to moderate drought conditions over the last few weeks. However, precipitation levels for 2012 remain far below average in Logan County — as much as 50 percent of normal — according to the High Plains Regional Climate Center.
Area reservoirs are showing the effects of the drought and corresponding high demand for irrigation water. According to the end-of-month reservoir readings from Brent Schantz of the Colorado Division of Water Resources, North Sterling Reservoir had virtually no water in it at the end of September. Prewitt and Jumbo reservoirs were each 17 percent full. That marks a steep decline from the end of May, when North Sterling was 82 percent full, Prewitt was 87 and Jumbo was at 96 percent…
Northeast Colorado livestock producers concerned about drought impacts are invited to attend a Managing Drought Workshop on Dec. 11-12 in Wray, hosted by the Yuma County Conservation District and Natural Resource Conservation Service. The workshop series will include sessions on online resources, such as a spreadsheet that can calculate profit estimates based on a number of variables, as well as drought indicators, plant drought response and drought planning. Ranchers may attend any part or all of the workshop sections.
For more information about the workshop, visit ycconservation.com.
From The Greeley Tribune (Analisa Romano):
Despite warmer weather this month — and still no sign of the first snow in Greeley — many residents complied with city officials’ pleas to stop watering their lawns by Oct. 1 instead of the city’s usual recommendation to stop by Oct. 15. The result was a savings of 96 million gallons of water, said Natalie Stevens, spokeswoman for Greeley’s water department…
“You can tell a lot have stopped watering,” [Natalie Stevens, spokeswoman for Greeley’s water department] said. “We knew citizens are water efficient and would step up to the plate when it’s needed, so we weren’t surprised. But we are happy.”[…]
Compared with water demand last year, Greeley used 111 million fewer gallons of water this season, Stevens said…
If Greeley continues to see little precipitation, it’s still a good idea for residents to water their trees and shrubs, experts say. Old or new trees, or stressed trees such as those that suffered in last year’s heavy snowstorms, tend to be more susceptible to winter kill, according to Greeley’s water and sewer department.