Colorado issues Stage‑1 drought

Edgewater put mandatory outdoor watering limits in place on April 13 after declaring a Stage 1 drought tied to historically low snowpack in the watershed. (edgewaterco.gov) The city said the move followed Denver Water’s Stage 1 drought declaration on March 25, which asked customers across its service area to cut total water use by 20 percent. Denver Water serves 1.5 million people in Denver and surrounding suburbs. (edgewaterco.gov) (denverwater.org) Under the rules, single-family homes may water lawns no more than two days a week on assigned days, and watering is limited to before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Denver Water also told customers to keep automatic sprinkler systems off until at least mid- to late May. (denverwater.org) This spring’s problem starts in the mountains. The Natural Resources Conservation Service said Colorado’s snowpack peaked early, many basins hit their maximum in late February to mid-March, and statewide snowpack was 22 percent of median on April 9. (nrcs.usda.gov) By April 12, the Colorado Snow Survey dashboard showed statewide snowpack at 20 percent of median. The agency said April-through-July runoff forecasts are well below median across Colorado. (wcc.nrcs.usda.gov) (nrcs.usda.gov) That matters for taps and rivers because much of Colorado’s usable water begins as mountain snow, then runs into streams, reservoirs and diversion systems as it melts. Denver Water said below-average reservoir levels and record-low snowpack raised the risk of stricter limits later this summer. (nrcs.usda.gov) (denverwater.org) Denver Water has already added another drought tool: temporary outdoor drought pricing approved April 8. The extra charges start with May water use, appear on June bills, and apply through April 30, 2027, unless the board acts sooner. (denverwater.org) The pricing leaves Tier 1 indoor use exempt, but adds $1.10 per 1,000 gallons to residential Tier 2 use and $2.20 per 1,000 gallons to Tier 3 use. Denver Water said it had not used drought pricing in more than 20 years, since the 2002-04 drought. (denverwater.org) Low snowpack is also hitting recreation planning before peak summer. Reporting from April 13 said Colorado rafting operators were preparing for an “extreme drought” season with lower flows, harder river access and more scheduling changes for trips. (denverpost.com) For now, the state’s water message is simple and early: leave sprinklers off, expect a shorter runoff window, and plan for a dry summer unless late storms change the picture. (denverwater.org) (nrcs.usda.gov)