Boulder has entered a drought watch, the city announced Wednesday, urging residents to delay watering lawns and conserve water voluntarily. The advisory comes after an extremely dry winter, with record-low snowpack and early melt-off.

Recommended conservation measures include delaying lawn watering until May, limiting sprinkler use, transitioning to waterwise landscaping and fixing leaks. Sprinklers may still be used in public spaces where grass could be damaged without watering. Additional water use restrictions, if needed, will be announced on May 1 as the city tracks snowpack and water supply conditions.

City staff told the Water Resources Advisory Board in March that Boulder’s water supply appears stable, though conditions are being closely monitored. A formal water supply report will be presented later this month. 

Other municipalities in Boulder County have also taken action. The Town of Erie announced a drought emergency on March 20. Lafayette and Louisville are encouraging residents to refrain from using their sprinkler systems. Lyons is asking residents to wait until May before irrigating lawns. Superior is also urging voluntary water restrictions and aims to reduce water use on town property by 20%. 

Por Jaijongkit covers climate and environmental issues for Boulder Reporting Lab and was a 2024 Summer Community Reporting Fellow. She recently graduated from CU Boulder with a master's degree in journalism and is interested in writing about the environment and exploring local stories. When not working on some form of writing, Por is either looking for Thai food or petting a cat.

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