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Forest, Rangeland, & Watershed Stewardship

Drought and Water Information Resources

Snow and rain has fallen recently in many parts of Colorado. The following drought links are still live, although several have not been updated yet for 2005.

Internet Sites

Drought Information from Colorado State University (no recent update as of June 13, 2005)
As a world-leader in natural resources, climate studies and agriculture, Colorado State University is at the forefront of research related to the impacts of drought on people and the environment. This site was created to provide the people of Colorado with timely, useful information in relation to the current drought.

Colorado Climate Center
The Colorado Climate Center is part of the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University. Their goal is to assist the state of Colorado in monitoring climate over time scales of weeks to years. We also recognize that climate involves complex interactions between the atmosphere, the oceans, continental glaciers, and the land. Vegetation processes are an important component of the climate system. This service should contribute to a reduction in the state's vulnerability to climate variability and change.

Farm, Ranch and Small Acreage Drought Information
This site includes drought information articles, links to state-wide drought information, drought websites, and other Colorado drought information.

A History of Drought in Colorado: Lessons Learned and What Lies Ahead
Dated February, 2000 this report includes topics such as what is drought, measuring and assessing drought, how Colorado gets its water, and Colorado water needs. (This is a .pdf document and you need adobe acrobat to read it.)

The Drought Monitor
A synthesis of multiple indices, outlooks and news accounts, that represents a consensus of federal and academic scientists. The main federal partners include USDA, NOAA, and the National Drought Mitigation Center.

National Drought Mitigation Center
The National Drought Mitigation Center helps people and institutions develop and implement measures to reduce societal vulnerability to drought. The NDMC, based at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, stresses preparation and risk management rather than crisis management.

Drought, a Paleo Perspective
This Web site was designed to explain how paleoclimatic data can provide information about past droughts and about the natural variability of drought over timescales of decades to millennia. We note that droughts are a world wide phenomenon and affect the global community. However, the focus of these Web pages is North America.

Is the Dust Bowl Returning ?
Sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, this site provides links to some historic dust bowl information. Included are the Reconnaissance Erosion Survey of the State of Oklahoma which is a color map that was created by the Oklahoma Erosion Survey in 1934, and was published by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service. It carefully delineates the types and levels of erosion that existed in Oklahoma. Also available is the Report of the Great Plains Drought Area Committee, the federal government report written in August 27, 1936, for President Franklin Roosevelt. It describes the impact of the Dust Bowl, and what the federal government should do about it.

Colorado Water Resources Research Institute
The Colorado Water Resources Research Institute (CWRRI), an affiliate of Colorado State University, exists for the express purpose of focusing the water expertise of higher education on the evolving water concerns and problems being faced by Colorado citizens. In 1964, Congress authorized the establishment of a water resources research institute in each state. The Colorado Institute was organized in 1965. In 1981, the Colorado Legislature defined CWRRI as we know it today - a statewide institute with the purpose of "developing, implementing, and coordinating water and water-related research programs in the state, and transferring the results of research to potential users."

Water Resources Archive at CSU Libraries
The Colorado State University Water Resources Archive is a joint project of the University Libraries, the Colorado Water Resources Research Institute and the Colorado Agricultural Archives. Formally begun in 2001, the Archive consists of collections from individuals and organizations that have been instrumental in the development of water resources in Colorado and the West.

Books

To locate books on drought or water, search SAGE the CSU Libraries catalog.

Newspaper Articles

The Fort Collins Coloradoan had a five-part series on the impact of the ongoing drought from September 22-26, 2002. The Coloradoan is located in the Journal Room at the CSU Libraries.

For other newspaper articles, search Academic Universe. The Denver Post is indexed in this database. The Coloradoan is not indexed in this database, or any database.

Periodical Databases

Academic Universe
Provides full text of numerous magazines and newspapers, including national newspapers such as the New York Times or Washington Post. Academic Universe also includes state newspapers such as the Denver Post. Select academic universe then go to NEWS; then GENERAL NEWS. Coverage and update frequency varies in different parts of the database.

Agricola
One of the key sources for information in agriculture, veterinary medicine, farm management, ecology, and natural resources. Includes journal articles, conference proceedings, and experiment station and government reports. Coverage from 1970-current. Updated monthly. Indexing for this database is done at the National Agricultural Library, MD.

CAB Abstracts
Offers abstracts and citations to a wide range of research in agriculture, veterinary medicine, earth sciences, natural sciences, bioagricultural sciences, crop science, forestry, natural resources management, biology, agroforestry, aquatic sciences, fisheries, wetlands and other subject areas. The coverage includes international articles and conference proceedings.
Coverage from 1973-current. Updated quarterly.

Ebsco Academic Search Premier
A broad and general database coving many topics. Most articles have abstracts and many articles are full-text.

Web of Science
Formerly known as the Science Citation Index. This powerful database tells you who cited a particular article and who that article cited. There is keyword searching, but no thesaurus or descriptor terms. Best search results include using a variety of search terms.
Coverage from 1945-present. Updated: Weekly!!

Water Resources Abstracts
This database provides summaries of the world's technical and scientific literature on water-related topics covering the characteristics, conservation, control, pollution, treatment, use and management of water resources. Abstracts are drawn from journals, books, conference proceedings, and technical reports in the physical and life sciences, as well as from engineering, legal and government publications. Coverage from 1967- present. Updated monthly.