Last updated: March 18, 2026
What's Happening Right Now
On March 17, 2026, Governor Polis activated the Colorado Drought Task Force — the first activation since 2020. The move signals that the state is edging closer to an official drought declaration, with most of the Front Range already in moderate to severe drought after the warmest winter in Colorado's 131-year recorded history. (CPR News)
Snowpack tells the clearest story. As of March 16, Denver Water reports the South Platte River Basin snowpack at 54% of normal — the worst on record for that date. The Colorado River Basin sits at 71% of normal, ranking third-worst. (Denver Water) The state climatologist at Colorado State University has said the chances of recovering to normal snowpack are less than 10%, and long-range forecasts show no relief through at least June. (Colorado Climate Center)
A record-breaking heat wave in mid-March pushed temperatures 20 degrees above normal across the Front Range, accelerating snowmelt at higher elevations. Weather forecasters described the event as potentially the final blow to any hope of snowpack recovery this season.
What This Means for Your Water Bill
Water restrictions are already rolling out across metro Denver, and more are coming.
Thornton became the first metro city to enact a Stage 1 drought declaration in March 2026, with mandatory twice-weekly watering limits starting May 1. Violations carry fines of $100 for residential customers and $250 for commercial properties.
Denver Water is developing a drought plan expected to include assigned watering days and a hard two-day-per-week limit that goes beyond the typical summer watering rules. The utility is already asking customers to voluntarily delay turning on automated sprinkler systems until at least mid-May. Average daily water use between April 1 and May 15 is 137 million gallons — delaying sprinkler startup even two weeks saves meaningful reservoir capacity.
Aurora Water reports reservoir levels at 60%, with Stage 1 restrictions triggered at 51%. The utility is seeking a 20% reduction in outdoor irrigation compared to last year and has described restrictions as "likely" for 2026.
For a complete breakdown of restrictions in your city, see our city-by-city watering restrictions guide.
What This Means for Your Yard
Delay your sprinkler startup. Denver Water is explicitly asking customers to hold off on automated systems until mid-May at the earliest, and June if possible. Hand watering with a hose and nozzle is fine for early-season needs. For details on how to handle your system this spring, see our guide on starting up irrigation after winter.
Prioritize trees over lawn. Trees are the most valuable and slowest-to-replace element in your landscape. A mature shade tree takes 20–30 years to grow; your lawn can recover in one season. In a drought year, water trees first, shrubs second, and lawn last. On sunny days above 40°F, water trees along the drip line — the outer edge of the canopy — using a soaker hose or by hand. The general guideline is 15 gallons per inch of trunk diameter, once or twice a month during dry periods.
Consider letting lawn go dormant. Kentucky bluegrass can survive 4–6 weeks of dormancy and recover when watering resumes. Fighting restrictions to keep grass green is expensive and often futile under Stage 2+ limits. If the lawn turns brown, it's not necessarily dead — it's conserving energy.
Wildfire risk is elevated. Dry conditions, record-low snowpack, and high winds have already caused Xcel Energy to preemptively shut off power to tens of thousands of Front Range customers multiple times this winter. Boulder County closed trails west of US-36 due to extreme fire danger. If you live near foothills or open space, now is the time to create or maintain defensible space around your property.
What You Can Do Now
Check your city's current restriction stage. Rules vary by city and change on short notice. Our Water & Drought page tracks restrictions for Denver, Boulder, Thornton, Aurora, Westminster, Longmont, and more.
Audit your irrigation system before turning it on. A single broken head or cracked lateral line can waste thousands of gallons you can't afford this summer. Walk every zone before the first run. See our sprinkler leak detection guide.
Look into xeriscape rebates. Multiple Front Range cities offer $0.75–$2.00 per square foot for turf removal. A 1,000-square-foot conversion could net $750–$2,000 back. Most programs require pre-approval before work begins. See our xeriscape guide for details.
Use the water calculator. Estimate your summer water costs based on yard size, sprinkler type, and your city's rates with our Lawn Water Calculator.
How 2026 Compares to Past Droughts
The benchmark drought year in Colorado is 2002, when the state ended winter with 53% of average snowpack. The current season is tracking at or below 2002 levels at many measurement stations, making it the worst snow drought in over 40 years.
The good news is that infrastructure and efficiency have improved dramatically since 2002. Denver Water customers now use 35% less water per household than they did 24 years ago, thanks to better irrigation technology, xeriscape adoption, and conservation programs. Denver Water's reservoir storage is currently at about 80% capacity — lower than the typical 85% for this time of year, but far better than the crisis levels seen in 2002.
The risk is compounding dry years. 2025 was the second-driest year in central Denver since 2007. If 2026 delivers another dry summer without a strong monsoon season, reservoir reserves will be stretched thin heading into 2027. Water managers are already planning with multi-year scenarios in mind.
An active monsoon season in July and August could significantly improve the outlook. Current forecast models suggest it's possible, but far from guaranteed.