312 IAC 6.3-5-2 Drought alerts

Sec. 2. (a) The director of the department may declare a drought alert for a designated reservoir based upon a drought emergency plan approved by the commission. A drought alert shall apply the Standardized Precipitation Index, U.S. Drought Monitor and below normal percentile of regionalized monthly average stream flow. (b) From least severe to most severe, a drought alert shall be declared as a: (1) drought watch; (2) drought warning; or (3) drought emergency. (c) Contingency plans shall be specified for a drought alert in any of the following: (1) A drought emergency plan approved by the commission. (2) The terms of a particular drought alert. (3) A contract for the withdrawal of water or the release of water from a reservoir. (d) The stages of drought alerts and their associated criteria are as follows: (1) A declaration of drought watch is appropriate when at least two (2) of the following occur: (A) The Standardize Precipitation Index is -1.00 to -1.49. (B) The stream flow as a percentile of normal is ten (10) to twenty-four (24). (C) The U.S. Drought Monitor value is D1 or more severe. (2) A declaration of drought warning is appropriate when at least two (2) of the following occur: (A) The Standardized Precipitation Index is -1.50 to -1.99. (B) The stream flow as a percentile of normal is six (6) to nine (9). (C) The U.S. Drought Monitor value is D2 or more severe. (3) A declaration of drought emergency is appropriate when at least two (2) of the following occur: (A) The Standardized Precipitation Index is -2.00 or less. (B) The stream flow as a percentile of normal is five (5) or less. (C) The U.S. Drought Monitor value is from D3 to D4.