Following weeks of voluntary drought restrictions, customers of the Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD) are now under mandatory drought restrictions.
It was only a matter of time.
It’s no secret Colorado has been at record-low snowpack levels this year, and we’ve watched the snow water equivalency numbers for Wolf Creek Pass dwindle to zero far too soon.
River levels, while lower than typical, are thankfully not at record lows — at least not currently.
The water levels and severe and extreme drought conditions in Archuleta County combined with windy days and a less-than-ideal wildfire season outlook across the country should be taken seriously.
The AccuWeather 2026 U.S. Wildfire Forecast predicts 5.5 million to 8 million acres of land will burn across the country this year, compared to the historical average of 7 million acres.
While the forecast notes there may be an overall dip in the number of fires compared to last year, the ones that ignite are “more likely to grow rapidly and burn more land,” as well as increasing the risk of widespread smoke and air quality issues.
Never mind the financial impacts of fighting large-scale fires, especially ones that occur near homes and other values.
“Expanding drought, combined with heat, wind, and dry vegetation, is a dangerous combination,” said AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Expert Paul Pastelok. “Similar to the benchmark wildfire season of 2020, conditions later this year could support any fires that ignite to spread faster, grow larger, and become more difficult to contain. Larger and more intense wildfires can also lead to widespread smoke impacts across the central and eastern United States, as millions of people experienced in 2023.”
We’re definitely not facing a great combination of factors, and it’s past time for action, both in preparing for fire and being mindful of our water usage. We appreciate that PAWSD’s updated drought management plan is more responsive to seasonal triggers instead of waiting for conditions to worsen.
While we’re certainly doing our rain dances for this weekend and a potentially good monsoon season and winter helped by El Niño, we’ll be continuing to work to make the space around us more defensible and watch our water usage to help protect the local supply.
We hope you’ll join us in these efforts.
There are numerous resources available with myriad tips for conserving water ranging from ensuring the tap is turned off while you’re brushing your teeth and ensuring fixtures are not leaking and more.
PAWSD lists the following voluntary conservation tips on its website:
• Water grass and landscapes early in the morning or late in the evening to prevent water being lost to evaporation.
• Water deeply and less frequently to encourage healthy root growth.
• Consider installing drip irrigation for landscapes.
• Use a broom or rake to clean hard surfaces instead of water.
• Ensure your washing machine and dishwasher are filled to capacity before running the load.
The PAWSD website also notes a typical home with water-efficient fixtures can save approximately 30,000 gallons of water per year.
Lets work together now to make things a bit less stressful for us all later this year.
Randi Pierce
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