Lone Tree Water Districts Enact Restrictions Amid Drought, Low Snowpack

Three water districts serving Lone Tree enacted conservation guidelines and restrictions this spring as snowpack across Colorado plummeted to historic lows, compelling water managers across the Front Range to act before summer irrigation demand peaks.

Denver Water, which serves Lone Tree among other surrounding suburbs, issued a drought response effective March 25 following the dry winter. The City of Lone Tree amplified the restrictions through an official post on X, urging residents and businesses to comply.

The underlying numbers driving the response are stark. As of March 23, 2026, snowpack was at or near record lows: the Colorado River Basin within Denver Water's collection system stood at 55% of normal, while the South Platte River Basin was at just 42% of normal. "In Denver Water's decades of records for its watershed collection areas, as of March 23, Colorado River snowpack ranked the worst on record, and the South Platte River snowpack remains ranked at the worst," Denver Water stated.

The Denver Board of Water Commissioners adopted a Stage 1 drought resolution, which seeks a 20% reduction in water use, effective immediately. The last such declaration came over a decade ago, in 2013. As of March 23, Denver Water's reservoir storage stood at 80% full.

Under Stage 1, lawn watering is limited to two days per week. Denver Water is also asking all customers to keep automatic sprinkler systems off until mid-to-late May. Restaurants in the service area are required to serve water only upon request.

Gov. Jared Polis activated the state Drought Task Force for the first time since 2020 to monitor conditions and recommend mitigation efforts. Denver Water indicated that early action this spring is intended to protect reservoir levels heading into 2027, with the goal of setting up next year's reservoir storage at 77% full, compared to this year's 80%.

Denver Water has declared a Stage 1 drought five times since 2000, making this year's declaration the first in more than a decade. Water managers have stressed that compliance now reduces the likelihood of deeper mandatory cuts if dry conditions persist into summer.