b'DROUGHTClimate change is initiating more severe seasonalprojected to see the number of dangerous heat days, weather patterns. Drought warnings were in eectwhere temperatures exceed 105 degrees, double to across the state from 2011 to 2016. The wettestnearly 10 per year.7 These trends demand increased January to April on record occurred in 2016,water storage from snowmelt to supply the drier-contributing to full reservoirs and heavy snowpackthan-usual parts of the year.in the mountains. Additionally, the availability of uncontested water resources has declined due toIn addition to altered weather patterns, risks to water limitations imposed by climate, aquatic life, andsecurity also arise from diminishing ground water prior appropriation.1 reserves. Measuring and monitoring groundwater levels throughout Idaho is a cooperative eort. By 2050, Idaho is projected to see a 110% increaseThe Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR) in drought threat. Figure 3 depicts an examplemeasures over 800 wells across the state, the U.S. drought monitor summary; please reference U.S.Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) measures 70 wells in Drought Monitor for up-to-date drought summaries.the Eastern Snake River Plain, and the U.S. Geological Snowpack has a large impact on drought in theSurvey (USGS) Idaho National Laboratory Project western states, and Idaho is undergoing a shift asOce measures about 200 wells. Combined, nearly more winter precipitation is falling as rain rather1,100 monitoring wells in Idaho are measured than snow. Currently Idaho averages fewer than 5regularly.8 Additionally, the Idaho Water Resource dangerous heat days a year. By 2050, the state isBoard (IWRB) is responsible for planning the Cooperative Drought Monitor SummaryFIGURE 3. Idaho Drought Monitor.Source: University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 16*Update Annually*132 I D A H O I N F R A S T R U C T U R E G U I D E B O O K'