June 1, 2026

After a dry and warm winter and spring across northern Colorado, water is certainly on the top of people's minds. You may have seen news coverage of drought conditions across the state or heard that major utilities are implementing restrictions. But what does this year's situation actually mean for you as a Little Thompson Water District (LTWD) customer? The short answer: you're in good hands, but that doesn't mean you're off the hook. 

TL: DR Summary 

• Colorado has experienced many historic droughts, and because of this, LTWD has an extensive water shortage contingency plan. Currently, we are asking customers to adhere to recommendations in the lowest stage of the plan, the Watch stage. 
• Every water provider has their own unique water portfolio, storage and customer demand, so a neighboring town’s watering restrictions may be different than ours. Based on this year’s water supply outlook, including the Colorado Big Thompson (C-BT) quota, and our primary supply and storage conditions, LTWD has sufficient water to meet our customers’ needs this summer. 
• Future planning, including infrastructure projects and individual conservation efforts, all contribute to an adequate water supply in the future. 

Drought in Colorado: It’s Never Just One Year  

When most people think of drought, they picture a single hot, dry summer. Water managers think very differently. Droughts in Colorado are slow-building, multi-year events that accumulate stress on water systems over time. The state has endured significant dry periods since the late 1800s, and severe droughts in 2002, 2012, 2018 and 2020 have reshaped how providers plan for resilience. The 2002 drought, the worst on record, actually began in 1999 and stretched across multiple years, with ripple effects on agriculture, water storage and municipal supplies across the region. That history is exactly why LTWD plans for a prolonged drought of up to five years: history shows that it is a real scenario. 

Where LTWD Stands Today 

Northern Water recently announced a Colorado-Big Thompson (C-BT) quota of 80% for this year, an above-average allocation from LTWD's primary water supply source. Combined with water stored from prior years, the District has an ample supply to meet customer needs even if conditions stay dry. As a result, LTWD is currently at a Water Shortage Watch, the first and least restrictive of four levels in our Water Shortage Contingency Plan. This is a precautionary step, not an emergency declaration. Under the Watch level, customers are asked to water landscapes no more than 3 days per week, and only before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. These low-burden steps add up to meaningful conservation across the District. 

Your Neighbor’s Restrictions Aren’t Necessarily Yours 

Every water provider operates independently. If you've seen Denver Water implement strict restrictions, that does not mean the same rules will apply to you. Each provider has its own portfolio of water rights, storage capacity and local demand patterns. Two neighboring utilities can look at the same dry spring and reach very different conclusions because their underlying water situations are genuinely different.  

This is especially worth keeping in mind for newer Colorado residents: the Front Range is semi-arid, and the water in your tap originates largely from mountain snowpack, which is increasingly unpredictable. Staying informed about your local water situation is one of the most meaningful things you can do as a community member. 

The Plan Behind the Plan: LTWD’s Long-Term Approach 

LTWD’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan, first created in 2001 and most recently updated in 2023, is the District’s roadmap for navigating dry years. The plan outlines four escalating levels of response, from the current Watch level to Level III, which involves stringent conservation measures during severe shortages. The current status is determined each year based on the C-BT quota and storage projections. The Board of Directors approves any changes to the plan. 

But the contingency plan is only one piece of the picture. LTWD is also investing in infrastructure to ensure water security for the next generation of customers. Two major projects currently underway illustrate this long-range thinking: 

• The H2 Infrastructure Project will construct a pump station and approximately four miles of pipeline to deliver water from the Consolidated Home Supply Ditch and Handy Ditch Company (water rights LTWD has strategically acquired over decades) to Dry Creek Reservoir and on to the Carter Lake Filter Plant. This project reduces the District’s reliance on Western Slope C-BT water by bringing more diverse Eastern Slope native supplies into the system. Completion is planned for 2028. 

• The RFO Project will construct a companion pump station and pipeline from Dry Creek Reservoir to the Little Thompson River, fulfilling return-flow obligations tied to the H2 native water use. Together, these two projects will strengthen LTWD’s water portfolio and boost yields from existing supplies without requiring new water rights acquisitions. 

LTWD is also evaluating opportunities for a regional water treatment plant that would increase redundancy in water treatment capacity and further boost yields from current supplies. These aren’t reactive measures. They are deliberate, multi-year investments in your long-term water security. 

Strength in Collaboration: The Colorado Drought Coordination Group 

LTWD doesn’t navigate drought in isolation, either. The District is an active member of the Colorado Drought Coordination Group (CDCG), a statewide collaborative of more than 40 water providers that meets regularly to review snowpack levels, reservoir storage and water supply forecasts. Members share information about community drought responses, conservation messaging and program effectiveness, helping each other learn from both successes and shortcomings. 

LTWD’s participation in the CDCG has been an important resource for refining the District’s own conservation programs and drought planning strategies. When providers across the state share real-time insights, everyone is better prepared, including their customers. 

“Water resources planning is about much more than reacting to a single dry year. It's about making sure we have a reliable supply for our customers today and well into the future. My primary focus is on our raw water supply and ensuring we’re in a strong position no matter what conditions come our way,” said James Sutherland, LTWD’s Water Resources Manager. “We are good stewards of this water, and we take that responsibility seriously.” 

New to Colorado? Water Works Differently Here. 

Colorado is one of the fastest-growing states in the country, and a large share of newcomers arrive from places where water scarcity simply wasn't part of everyday life. If you never thought twice about running the sprinklers or letting the tap run, Colorado is a different story. The Front Range is semi-arid, and the water coming out of your tap originates largely as mountain snowpack — snowpack that is increasingly unpredictable as temperatures rise and winters grow drier.  

Water conservation here isn't just a crisis response. It's a way of life. Whether you've lived here for decades or arrived last year, staying informed about your local supply is essential. LTWD makes that easy. Updates on drought levels, conservation programs and watering guidelines are available year-round at littlethompsonwd.gov, and we provide regular updates on social media, in our quarterly email and print newsletters and through postcards as needed. 

What You Can Do Right Now 

Even with adequate supplies for 2026, conservation matters not just for this year but for the years that follow. A few consecutive dry years can strain even the best-managed water systems. Here are five ways to help: 

• Look out for leaks. Check your sprinkler system for broken heads or leaking valves. A single stuck head can waste hundreds of gallons per cycle. 

• Water smarter, not more. Use the cycle-and-soak technique: break irrigation into three shorter cycles spaced 45 to 60 minutes apart so water absorbs deeply rather than runs off. 

• Water at the right time. Water only before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. to reduce evaporation loss. 

• Think indoors, too. Small changes add up. LTWD's own Water Resources Manager James Sutherland practices it at home: "It becomes second nature. You just turn the water off between tasks, washing dishes, rinsing produce, and stop thinking of it as an inconvenience." 

• Take advantage of LTWD programs. LTWD offers conservation programs and rebates, including sprinkler consultations, lawn replacement incentives and the Garden in a Box program, all through our partners at Resource Central. We also have a landscape contest where winners receive a Visa gift card or bill credits for their water-wise designs. Find details at littlethompsonwd.gov/conservation. 

The Bottom Line 

Good water management isn't reactive. It's the result of years of planning, investment and vigilance. LTWD's ability to remain at a Watch level during a dry spring, while neighboring utilities face steeper restrictions, reflects work done long before this season began. Drought is not just a one-year problem, and LTWD is planning for that reality every day. We ask that our customers do their part too, not because we're in crisis, but because smart, consistent conservation is the best way to help avoid one. 

For more information, visit littlethompsonwd.gov/water-shortage-contingency-plan  or littlethompsonwd.gov/water-rights-planning.