Drought Program

Snowpack is important because Boulder relies heavily upon snowmelt runoff to fill and store water in its upper Boulder Creek basin reservoirs each year. During the winter and early spring, we measure snowpack levels in the watershed that supplies much of the city’s water.

However, snowpack isn’t the only measurement for drought. Even with lower-than-average snowpack, it’s possible to have enough water stored in reservoirs, combined with a decent allotment of CBT water, to provide water to city customers.

Water stored in the city’s upper Boulder Creek basin reservoirs is also an essential component in determining our annual water supply. As snowmelt decreases later in the summer and we can no longer treat runoff directly from its diversion points on the streams, we must start treating water from reservoir storage to distribute. We continue to use reservoir water until the following spring when snowmelt begins again. We manage our reservoirs so that they are not completely drained in a single year in order to assure an adequate water supply during subsequent dry years.

Water supplied by Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District through the CBT system is another significant factor in our annual water supply, particularly during dry years. CBT water originates in the Colorado River Basin on the West Slope and is delivered to the East Slope through a 13-mile tunnel. Each year, the Northern Water Board of Directors sets an allotment or “quota” of CBT water as a supplemental supply for eastern slope members.

Higher quotas are typically set when East Slope runoff is projected to be lower than normal and West Slope reservoirs are at or above average storage levels. Lower quotas are typically set when East Slope runoff is expected to be above normal or when West Slope reservoirs are significantly below normal storage levels.

A drought on the ground and "drought" in terms of water supply status are different distinctions. While the two sometimes go hand-in-hand, a weather-based drought does not always translate into a city declaring watering restrictions based on their existing and projected water supply levels.

Learn about water conservation, find out about city programs that can help you save water this year and stay within your water budget. You can monitor your water use on your monthly water bill.

We monitor water supply conditions continuously and will update the city’s drought status as conditions change. Most likely, we will remain in Drought Watch through the fall. Beyond that depends on weather and water supply conditions that are difficult to predict. We will update the community with any changes to the drought stage.

Drought is a local issue. Each city or water provider has a different water supply and water storage capacity. Boulder proactively manages its water operations to maximize savings and long-term storage in dry years. Sometimes Boulder is in a different situation than neighboring communities and sometimes we share common concerns. In 2026, Boulder’s approach is similar to many front range water providers, though not all.

Parks and sports fields serve as a hub for community activities. The grass in these spaces needs extra water to survive the heavy use these areas support. 

Additionally, large properties, including parks, athletic fields and schools, often have over 50 irrigation zones and may need additional watering time to help manage water pressure. City staff actively conserve water across city parks with regular irrigation audits, upgrades to irrigation systems, calibration of sprinkler timers, and installation of soil moisture sensors.

Installation of new landscapes and watering of recently installed landscapes is still allowed and is important to help establish those plantings. We encourage community members to convert their landscapes to climate-adaptive, wildfire-resilient, and waterwise landscapes. These types of landscapes can make our community more resilient to future droughts. We partner with Resource Central to offer discounts to support grass conversions.

This is a text alternative to the Watering Guide Overview. Watering with sprinklers is not allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. from May to September. From January to April and from October to December, water trees and shrubs as needed. Wait to water turf grass. In May, water 1 inch per square foot per week for turf grass and 0.5 inches for low-water-use landscape. In June, water 1.5 inches per week for turf grass and 0.75 inches for low-water-use landscape. In July, water 1.5 inches per week for turf grass and 0.75 inches for low-water-use landscape. In August, water 1.3 inches per week for turf grass and 0.7 inches for low-water-use landscape. In September, water 0.9 inches per week for turf grass and 0.7 inches for low-water-use landscape.