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Show 34 And, Mr. Morgan, can we turn the time over to you for your testimony. STATEMENT OF MR. ROBERT L. MORGAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UTAH DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Mr. MORGAN. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Cannon. The entire State of Utah is experiencing drought conditions at the present time. The state- wide total reservoir storage is down from last year and is currently about 68 percent of normal. This year, 2002, is the fourth consecutive year of below normal water supply. Throughout the state, most municipalities have taken steps to ensure an adequate culinary water supply to meet current and future growth. Mr. CANNON. Mr. Morgan, could you move your microphone a little closer to you so we can hear more clearly. Mr. MORGAN. IS that better? Mr. CANNON. Not much. Is that microphone on? Where's our microphone specialist? Are those microphones movable or are they fixed to the desk? Mr. MORGAN. They're fixed. Mr. CANNON. Mr. Ovard, does your microphone work? Mr. OVARD. Yes, it does. Mr. CANNON. Would you mind just switching places and the Clerk can switch the cards. Mr. MORGAN. We're going to have funny questioning here, figuring out who is who here. Mr. CANNON. We apologize for the inconvenience. We'll start the clock over again for you, Mr. Morgan. Mr. MORGAN. Thank you very much. Mr. CANNON. Take your full time. Mr. MORGAN. The entire State of Utah is experiencing drought conditions at the present time. State- wide total reservoir storage is down from last year and it's currently about 68 percent of normal. This year, 2002, is the fourth consecutive year of below normal water supply. Throughout the state most municipalities have taken steps to ensure an adequate culinary water supply to meet current and future water needs. Most communities will survive the drought years with minimal problems. Utah's agricultural sector is suffering the greatest impact of the drought. San Juan County and Southeastern Utah made a formal drought emergency declaration on March 11th. On March 26th, the Navajo Nation made a drought emergency declaration. On April 24th, Governor Michael Leavitt signed an Executive Order declaring a State of Emergency and Statewide Agricultural Disaster exists throughout the State of Utah, and activated the state emergency operations plan. In the weeks that have followed, drought emergency declarations have been formally declared by twelve additional counties. The State Drought Relief Reporting Committee has met on a regular basis to be briefed on a statewide drought situation and discuss potential relief action. With the Governor's formal drought emergency declaration, the Drought Response Committee was activated. This committee meets regularly to discuss drought impacts and coordinate response action. Some of the recommended responses include funding and drilling of wells to secure adequate water supplies for fire suppres- |