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Carbondale utilities warn of severe drought, outline staged conservation plan and outreach
Summary
Utilities staff warned trustees that an early snowmelt and low snowpack point to possibly the worst runoff year on record; they outlined a trigger-based plan moving from voluntary conservation to mandatory restrictions and urged immediate community outreach.
Carbondale utilities staff told trustees on May 2 that this spring’s early snowmelt and low runoff will likely produce a drought comparable to or worse than 2018 and urged residents to begin voluntary conservation now.
"Snowmelt all started about 4 weeks too early," Utilities Director Scott said in a town briefing. He summarized the town’s system: declining flows at Nettle Creek, a 2.7‑million gallon combined storage that buys roughly a day of water, no upstream reservoir to bank runoff, and new vulnerability from possible power outages at treatment plants.
Scott and other staff explained the proposed staged response: start with broad conservation messaging and ‘‘practice now’’ behaviors; escalate to odd/even or reduced irrigation schedules and 50% reductions on some ditch deliveries; then, if triggers are met, impose mandatory restrictions (no pool refills, limits on washing hardscapes) and finally water‑crisis measures that could curtail construction water and other nonessential uses.
Staff emphasized community outreach — partnering with the Chamber, tourism and the fire district — and suggested a June community event to explain recommended behaviors (prioritize trees, focus on soil health, night watering for potable irrigation). They said the town will monitor streamflow and power‑outage signals and will move quickly when pre-set triggers are reached.
Next steps: staff will publish conservation guidance, prepare a public web page with technical resources and schedule outreach events; trustees endorsed starting public messaging immediately.
