Looking Ahead: What Does 2027 Mean for Our Water Supply?

After a hot and exceptionally dry 2026, a wet winter sounds pretty good right about now.

And while current forecasts give us some reason for optimism, it's important to remember that one wet winter doesn't erase the impacts of a dry year. Water supply planning is a long-term process, and what happens during one water year can affect the next.

For LTWD, that means looking beyond today's conditions and continuing to plan carefully for what comes next.

2026 Started Strong

LTWD entered 2026 in a good position.

Through careful planning and management of our water supplies, the District began the year with full storage and received an 80% Colorado-Big Thompson (C-BT) quota. That put LTWD in a strong position heading into the irrigation season.

But conditions changed quickly.

Record-setting temperatures and a warm spring led many customers to begin irrigating earlier than usual. In fact, six of the last 10 months have ranked among the 10 warmest in the past 130 years, with February and March 2026 both ranking as the warmest on record.

The combination of heat and an early start to irrigation contributed to higher water use across the District.

From November 2025 through July 2026, LTWD's water use was 6.5% above the 10-year average. During five of those nine months, water use exceeded the 10-year average.

In March, April and May, LTWD also exceeded its 10-year maximum for monthly water use. On average, usage during those three months was approximately 17.41 acre-feet—or 5.67 million gallons—above the 10-year maximum for each month.

And on July 21, LTWD reached its peak water-use day of the year, using approximately 12.7 million gallons of water.

These numbers are important but they don't tell the whole story.

LTWD's water supply planning and management helped the District navigate a challenging year while continuing to provide reliable service to customers.

Why Doesn't a Wet Winter Reset the Water Supply?

Water doesn't operate on a simple calendar-year cycle.

Snowpack, runoff, reservoir storage, soil moisture and water demand all influence how much water is available to communities in the months and years ahead. Water stored during wet periods can provide an important buffer during dry periods, but that storage has limits.

That's why conditions in 2026 matter as we look toward 2027.

Storage levels in the C-BT system are currently low and will require significant runoff next spring to replenish. LTWD also expects the fall C-BT quota to be lower than the typical 50% quota.

LTWD can retain a portion of its C-BT ownership in storage for drought protection, but the amount that can be retained from one year to the next is limited.

Taken together, these factors mean that 2027 may look different from 2026, even if we have a wetter winter.

That isn't a reason to panic. It's a reason to plan.

LTWD will continue monitoring conditions, managing available water supplies carefully and working with regional partners to prepare for what comes next.

Why This Matters

A wet winter can help, but it doesn't erase a dry year. Water supplies depend on conditions across multiple seasons.

What happens this year can affect next year's supply. Reservoir storage and spring runoff help determine how much water is available in the future.

Planning now gives LTWD more options later. Monitoring conditions and managing water supplies carefully helps the District prepare for uncertainty.

Conservation remains part of the solution. Using water efficiently helps preserve flexibility for future dry periods and supports a resilient water supply.

Working Together to Strengthen Northern Colorado's Water Supply

Water doesn't stop at a community's boundaries and neither do drought conditions.

Earlier this year, LTWD joined water providers across Boulder County in a regional effort to encourage conservation as dry conditions continued. While each water provider has a different mix of water supplies, storage and customer demands, the communities share a common goal: using water wisely and strengthening long-term water-supply resiliency.

Regional collaboration is also important when it comes to infrastructure.

LTWD participates in shared systems and partnerships that allow water providers to make thoughtful investments, maximize existing infrastructure and manage costs. Our September blog explored how shared infrastructure can help communities get more value from the investments needed to provide reliable water service.

 

Why Regional Collaboration Matters

Water challenges are regional. Drought, weather and water availability don't follow municipal boundaries.

Working together can stretch resources further. Shared infrastructure and partnerships can help communities make strategic investments rather than duplicating systems.

Planning together strengthens resilience. Collaboration allows water providers to share information, coordinate planning and prepare for changing conditions.

Customers benefit from thoughtful investment. Regional partnerships can help LTWD maintain reliable service while being responsible with customer resources.

 

2026 Conservation: Customers Took Action

Conservation is one of the ways customers can directly contribute to a more resilient water supply and LTWD customers participated in a range of programs throughout the 2026 season.

Resource Central Programs

Lawn Replacement
7 projects

Sprinkler Evaluations
93 billable appointments, with 20 additional appointments scheduled

Garden In A Box
90 discount claims

LTWD Conservation Rebates

Plant Rebates
2

Smart Irrigation Controller Rebates
6

Soil Amendment Rebates
2

How Much Water Did Lawn Replacement Save?

The seven Lawn Replacement projects completed this year removed approximately 5,500 square feet of lawn.

Resource Central estimates that each square foot of lawn removed can save approximately 12.7 gallons of water annually.

Based on that estimate, the projects could save approximately 69,850 gallons of water each year.

These numbers are estimates, but they demonstrate the potential impact of replacing water-intensive lawn with more water-efficient landscapes.

Why Conservation Matters

Conservation isn't only something we do when conditions are dry.

Using water efficiently throughout the year helps preserve flexibility in our water supply and can reduce demand during the times when the system is under the most pressure.

And there are still simple ways to make a difference.

LTWD continues to see many irrigation events taking place between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. During hot weather, watering between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. can be an easy way to reduce water lost to evaporation.

Explore LTWD's conservation programs and resources

https://www.littlethompsonwd.gov/conservation-programs

Water Shortage Status: Still Green

For now, LTWD's Water Shortage Contingency Action Plan remains at the Green level.

Green is the current action level, but LTWD continues to monitor water supply conditions closely.

The next important checkpoint comes in November, when the new water year begins and Northern Water typically establishes an initial C-BT Project quota.

The quota considers a range of factors, including reservoir storage, snowpack, projected runoff, soil moisture and estimated future water needs.

Once that information is available, LTWD will review the latest conditions and determine whether an update to the District's action plan level is needed.

Why This Matters

A new water year means a fresh look at our water supply. November gives LTWD an opportunity to evaluate current conditions and what they could mean for the year ahead.

This year's conditions can affect what's available next year. Storage and runoff play an important role in determining future water availability.

Monitoring helps LTWD plan ahead, not react later. By evaluating conditions early, the District can make informed decisions and prepare customers for any changes.

We'll keep you informed. If the action plan level changes, LTWD will communicate the update through its website, email and social media channels.

| Learn more about LTWD's Water Shortage Contingency Plan 
https://www.littlethompsonwd.gov/water-shortage-contingency-plan

What You Can Do This Fall

Even as temperatures cool and irrigation season winds down, there are still ways to use water wisely.

Adjust Your Irrigation

As temperatures fall, plants generally need less water. Adjust your irrigation schedule accordingly and avoid watering during or immediately after rain.

Water Trees and Shrubs When Needed

Lawns aren't the only plants that need attention heading into winter. Established trees and shrubs may still need supplemental water, particularly after a hot and dry season.

Check Your Irrigation System

Before shutting down your system for the season, look for leaks, broken sprinkler heads and other problems that could lead to wasted water next spring.

Keep an Eye on Your Water Use

EyeOnWater allows LTWD customers to monitor water use and spot unusual changes that could indicate a leak.

| Learn more about EyeOnWater 

https://www.littlethompsonwd.gov/eyeonwater

Help Us Improve How We Communicate

How Do You Want to Hear From LTWD?

Good communication matters most when you need an answer.

We're looking for feedback on how customers prefer to communicate with LTWD, both during emergencies and when you have a routine question or request.

We're also interested in whether customers would use chatbot functionality on the LTWD website to find answers to common questions.

Take the Survey

The survey is short and should only take a few minutes.

We'll ask about:

• How you'd prefer to contact LTWD during an emergency
• How you'd prefer to contact us for non-emergency questions
• Whether you'd use a chatbot on the LTWD website
• What information or support would make it easier to get answers

Enter to Win a $25 Bill Credit

Everyone who completes the survey can choose to enter a drawing for one of three $25 LTWD bill credits.

If you'd like to enter, you'll be asked to provide your service address and email address at the end of the survey. Providing this information is optional and is only needed for the drawing.

Take the survey and enter to win

https://us21.list-manage.com/survey?u=42f3a46edc9ce7bc1be1ecf88&id=94b73444d2&attribution=false