The Drought Response Information Project is a cooperative effort between the water providers in the Grand Valley to educate and inform water consumers about drought, how to use water wisely in your home, business, and landscape, and to keep consumers updated in the latest in water supply and drought information.
Our members include the City of Grand Junction Water, Ute Water Conservancy District, Clifton Water District, the Town of Palisade, and the Colorado State University Extension.
Following the Drought of 2002, the four Grand Valley municipal water providers; City of Grand Junction, Clifton Water District, Town of Palisade and Ute Water Conservancy District collaborated and developed a “Drought Response Plan”. The collaboration between the Valley’s four domestic water providers actively responds to the Valley’s drought conditions from year-to-year. Within the Drought Response Plan, the “Drought Response Information Project’, or DRIP, was identified as the means to provide information to educate the public about the importance of water conservation and how to reduce water use.
In June of 2012, as a result of extreme drought conditions, DRIP placed the Grand Valley domestic water users under Stage I Drought. Following the announcement of Stage I Drought, the community was asked to voluntarily reduce their outdoor water usage; such as ornamental fountains, swimming pools and water consuming landscapes. The Grand Valley remained in a Stage I Drought throughout the winter of 2012 and the spring of 2013. Water officials proactively started preparing for Stage II Drought as snowpack levels constantly fell below average across the State of Colorado.
Spokesperson for Ute Water Conservancy District, Joseph Burtard, stated “The Grand Valley water providers and their governing bodies have taken a proactive role in managing our water supplies and storage. Had they not been so proactive in their foresight, then we, like many other water providers across the State of Colorado, would also be enforcing mandatory water restrictions at this time. That’s not to say that mandatory water restrictions will not be coming down the pipeline as we move into the warmer months.”
The Drought Response Information Project released a statement on Friday, April 26th, reminding the Grand Valley community that we are still under a ‘Stage I Drought’ status. For the past several weeks, water officials were debating whether or not to place the Grand Valley under a ‘Stage II Drought’ status which would mean mandatory water restrictions and a water rate structure to encourage water conservation for municipal consumers. Many communities across the state are already under some level of mandatory water restrictions. While the recent spring storms and cooler temperatures have helped our local snow and soil moisture content, we are continuing close observation and monitoring of the local water situation, in both the domestic and irrigation arenas.
The Drought Response Information Project will remain under a ‘Stage I Drought’ status for the next several months. There are several triggers that could cause water officials to immediately move into the ‘Stage II Drought’ including: a significant drop in reservoir levels, calls on the Colorado River by senior water right holders and inefficient use of our limited supply. Consumers are asked to be cautious about using treated water for outdoor use as well as using their irrigation water in the most efficient and effective manner to help conserve our most precious resource – WATER.
For additional information on the Drought Response Information Project or for more details about the two stages of drought, please visit http://www.thedripwebsite.com.
The monthly snow survey for March shows snow levels and water content still below average.
The full results of the survey can be found at: http://www.gjcity.org/WaterSupply.aspx
Winter weather is not quite over yet, as evidenced by the snowstorms that moved through the state yesterday. The cold temperatures have also helped delay the spring snowmelt, unlike last year’s unusually early and warm spring.
However, the entire Grand Valley remains in a Stage 1 Drought, with voluntary watering restrictions in place. Water has begun filling the canals and laterals, and some homeowners have even begun watering their lawns. If you can delay your watering until the temperatures heat up, you can also avoid frozen sprinkler lines when the temperatures drop below freezing as they did the last two nights.
The snow surveys that the City of Grand Junction does monthly in its watershed in the Grand Mesa are a snapshot in time, comparing that month’s snow depth and water content with the average for that time period over many years. (Full results are a www.gjcity.org/WaterSupply.aspx. Click on the link marked Grand Mesa Monthly Snowfall and Water Content Summary.)
Last month’s snows certainly helped out, but they are not the full picture of what our water supplies will be for this summer and throughout next winter. We are still counting on March and April snows, and hoping for cool weather for a while longer. So while our snow levels and content in the City’s watershed as of March 6 are at 93 percent of average for snow depth and 97% for water content for this time of year, it is still too early to make predictions on how we will end the winter season. The Colorado River basin remains at about 76% of normal snowpack, and the eastern plains are at 69% of normal.
An early, warm spring such as we had last year could negatively impact our snowpack, and conversely, some heavy, wet spring snowstorms in the mountains would be beneficial. It’s just too early to tell.
Last summer, the three valley water providers—the City of Grand Junction, Clifton Water District, and Ute Water Conservancy District, all declared a Stage 1 Drought, which asks water users to voluntarily cut their usage by 20 percent. The Stage 1 Drought declaration is still in effect, and water users are encouraged to make wise choices when using water.
Take a look at your water usage and see where you can cut back. Indoor water savings can come from changing habits—from taking shorter showers to waiting until you have a full load of dishes and laundry, and fixing all leaks in faucets and toilets. By far the highest usage of residential water is for outdoor watering—from overwatering our lawns to using water and hoses to wash our cars and remove debris from our decks and sidewalks. Think about how you can change some of your habits to save water.
The valley domestic water providers, including the City of Grand Junction, Clifton Water, and Ute Water Conservancy District, are all monitoring snowpack conditions throughout the winter. They will be meeting in mid-April to assess and discuss the situation, and look at projected reservoir levels.
The three entities formed the Drought Response Information Project (DRIP) during the last severe drought in 2002, and they continue to work together to encourage water conservation. In fact, they recently completed a Joint Water Conservation Plan that is fairly unique in the state. It is a cooperative plan that addresses how all three entities will educate the public about drought and water conservation, and sets forth some action steps to achieve their goals.
They are applying for a grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board that would fund residential landscape audits and commercial audits for some of the largest water users. These audits can identify areas where users can decrease their water use and decrease their water bills as well. Their outreach and education program will continue with advertising of conservation messages and conservation tips and information on this DRIP website.
So the word on water right now from all three water providers is we need you to continue to conserve water and be careful about your outdoor watering. We are unlikely to see a movement out of the Stage 1 Drought for this summer, and voluntary reductions in use will likely continue. If the situation were to change dramatically for the worse, there is the possibility of moving to a Stage 2 Drought this summer, where restrictions could become mandatory and drought rates for water may be implemented to encourage reductions in water use. Let’s all look to the heavens for additional moisture this spring!
During the winter months, the City of Grand Junction conducts a snow survey in their watershed on the top of the Grand Mesa. In this short video, City Water Services employee Slade Connell explains how the survey is conducted.
Every month throughout the winter, the City of Grand Junction conducts a snow survey to measure snow depth and water content in their watershed. The last survey on the Grand Mesa was completed on February 1. Snow depth levels are now at 98% of average within the City’s watershed, thanks to some January storms. There are still three to four months of winter season yet to come, so those numbers, while encouraging, will not tell the full story yet.
Other watersheds are still experiencing very low snowfall and water content levels, however, throughout the state. The most recent information can be found here.
We remain in a Stage 1 Drought with voluntary watering restrictions in the Grand Valley. The Drought Response Information Project, or DRIP, encourages the public to be mindful of water use and continue to use water wisely in their homes and gardens.
