Drought in the Desert

For eight of the past nine years, the Southwest has experienced extremely dry conditions, and the majority of Arizona is classified as experiencing a severe to extreme drought. Historically, drought is a naturally recurring climatological event.

Drought is characterized by above-average temperatures, below-average precipitation, and most importantly, below-average snowpack in the high country. The cumulative effects of these conditions include low runoff and streamflow in the washes and rivers that supply water to reservoirs. In fact, Lake Powell inflow in 2002 was the lowest ever observed. Reservoir levels also reached record lows in the Salt and Verde River Watersheds after the driest winter on record (2001-2002). [See figures.]