Western Colorado Drought: Water Supply Shortages Loom

The winter snowfall in southwestern Colorado has left much to be desired, with water managers like Ken Curtis describing the expected water supply this summer as "pretty bad." As the manager of the Dolores Water Conservancy District, Curtis is bracing for a season with only 30-35% of the normal water supply. This will have a significant impact on farmers, the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe, and communities like Cortez and Dove Creek, which rely on the district for irrigation water.

A Regional Problem

The situation in southwestern Colorado is not unique. Across the state, the snowpack peaked lower than the 30-year median, with earlier-than-usual melts and rapid depletion. Water managers and climatologists are hoping for a rainy May and an active summer thunderstorm season to alleviate the drought. However, the forecast looks grim, with the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center predicting only 55% of the annual average water flow into Lake Powell. This has significant implications for the 40 million people and farms that rely on the Colorado River Basin for water.

The Human Impact

The drought will have a tangible impact on the people and communities that rely on the water supply. Farmers and ranchers may face irrigation water shortages, while fish and aquatic ecosystems will suffer from lower water levels and warmer rivers. The Dolores Water Conservancy District is expecting a financial blow of $250,000 due to the lackluster winter, which will force them to cut costs and defer maintenance projects. As Curtis notes, "We're still deciding on how much we can cut," highlighting the difficult decisions that water managers must make in the face of drought.

A Tale of Two Regions

While the western part of the state is struggling with drought, the Front Range is experiencing a relatively normal water supply. The snowpack in the headwaters of the Colorado River was closer to normal, and big water managers like the Northern Water Conservancy District are planning for a typical summer. Denver Water, which relies on water from the Western Slope, is expecting to get 70% of its usual supply and is planning to rely on its storage reservoirs to meet demand. As Nathan Elder, water resource engineer with Denver Water, notes, "Our water conditions, they're OK. They're not great, but they're not terribly bad either."

Uncertainty and Preparation

Despite the current forecast, water providers are keeping a close eye on the weather, knowing that summer conditions can change rapidly. As Elder asks, "Do we see those monsoons later this summer? Is it going to be really hot and really dry?" Water managers are planning for all scenarios, preparing for the possibility of a dry summer and the potential impacts on the water supply. As the seasons change, one thing is certain: the drought will have a lasting impact on the communities and ecosystems that rely on the water supply.