Section 312IAC6.3-5-2. Drought alerts

   (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.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 6.3-5-2; filed Nov 5, 2008, 2:32 p.m.: 20081203-IR-312080131FRA; readopted filed Jul 17, 2014, 3:47 p.m.: 20140813-IR-312140097RFA)