Drought (1)Drought is a period of abnormally dry weather that persists long enough to produce a serious hydrologic imbalance (for example, crop damage, water supply shortage, etc.) The severity of the drought depends upon the degree of moisture deficiency, the duration, and the size of the affected area. The NDMC uses this definition: "a deficiency of precipitation over an extended period of time, usually a season or more. This deficiency results in a water shortage for some activity, group, or environmental sector." The latest NIDIS legislation uses the following: (e) DROUGHT DEFINED.— In this section, the term ‘‘drought’’ means a deficiency in precipitation— (1) that leads to a deficiency in surface or subsurface water supplies (including rivers, streams, wetlands, ground water, soil moisture, reservoir supplies, lake levels, and snow pack); and (2) that causes or may cause (A) substantial economic or social impacts; (B) substantial physical damage or injury to individuals, property, or the environment.

Wind River Basin Current SNOTEL SWE is 70% of Average –Varies from 34 to 82% Normal –SWE about 14 inches –Meltout starts about April 15 Present –SWE about 10 inches Runoff above Boysen –Into Boysen was 54% now 56% –Maximum was 71% of Average now is 77% Forecast Point PER MP MP% PER MP MP% WIND RIVER abv Bull Lake Cr APR-SEP MAY-SEP WIND RIVER at Riverton APR-SEP May-SEP BOYSEN RESERVOIR Inflow APR-SEP MAY-SEP BULL LAKE CR near Lenore APR-SEP May-SEP LT POPO AGIE RIVER nr Lander APR-SEP MAY-SEP SF LT WIND nr Fort Washakie APR-SEP MAY-SEP LT WIND RIVER nr Riverton APR-SEP MAY-SEP

Big Horn River Basin Current SNOTEL 75% of Average –Varies from 36 to 105% Normal –SWE about 13 inches –Meltout starts about April 15 Present –SWE about 10 inches Runoff for Bighorn River –Basin at Kane is 60% of average –Maximum was 89% of Average Forecast Point PER MP MP% PER MP MP% BOYSEN RESERVOIR Inflow APR-SEP MAY-SEP GREYBULL RIVER nr Meeteetse APR-SEP MAY-SEP SHELL CREEK nr Shell APR-SEP MAY-SEP BIGHORN RIVER at Kane APR-SEP

Shoshone River basin Current SNOTEL 64% of Average –Varies from 27 to 85% Normal –SWE about 19.5 inches –Meltout starts about April 15 Present –SWE about 12.7 inches Runoff –Basin Average is 77% of average –Maximum is 86% of Average –Minimum is 59% of average Forecast Point PER MP MP% PER MP MP% NF SHOSHONE RIVER at Wapiti APR-SEP MAY-SEP SF SHOSHONE RIVER nr Valley APR-SEP MAY-SEP SF SHOSHONE abv Buffalo Bill APR-SEP MAY-SEP BUFFALO BILL DAM Inflow (2) APR-SEP MAY-SEP CLARKS FORK RIVER nr Belfry APR-SEP MAY-SEP

Powder-Tongue River basins Current SNOTEL 91% of Average –Varies from 53 to 107% Normal –SWE about 11.5 inches –Meltout starts about April 15 Present –SWE about 10.5 inches Runoff –Basin Average is 82% of average –Maximum is 98% of Average –Minimum is 72% of average Forecast Point PER MP MP% PER MP MP% TONGUE RIVER nr Dayton (2) APR-SEP MAY-SEP BIG GOOSE nr Sheridan APR-SEP MAY-SEP LITTLE GOOSE nr Bighorn APR-SEP MAY-SEP TONGUE RIVER RESERVOIR Inflow APR-SEP MAY-SEP MIDDLE FORK POWDER nr Barnum APR-SEP NORTH FORK POWDER nr Hazelton APR-SEP ROCK CREEK nr Buffalo APR-SEP PINEY CREEK at Kearney APR-SEP POWDER RIVER at Moorehead APR-SEP MAY-SEP POWDER RIVER nr Locate APR-SEP