Fremont County water providers warn of record-low snowpack, urge voluntary conservation

Representatives from Canyon City, the City of Florence, Park Center Water and the Penrose Water District told Fremont County officials that snowpack and river flows in the Arkansas River basin are near historic lows and urged residents to reduce water use now to avoid involuntary curtailments later this summer.

The providers outlined tiered drought-response plans, described current voluntary-watching steps and previewed stricter restrictions that would take effect if river 'calls' cut off access to direct flow rights. "If we do what we can now, we might be able to avoid harsher measures," said Travis Payne of Canyon City, who warned that snow-water-equivalent in the basin had fallen to roughly 14% of median and that local flows were trending downward.

Why it matters: Low snowpack and warm early-season conditions reduce runoff and reservoir inflows. Providers said those hydrology trends could force senior water-right holders to make river calls that would block some municipal and junior rights users from direct flows. The districts stressed that stored project water and temporary exchanges can help but are finite and operationally constrained.

What the districts said: Payne described Canyon City's water-shortage watch (declared April 29) and asked municipal customers to cut use 5–10% voluntarily, with outdoor-watering limits recommended at three days per week and specific hours for handheld watering. He noted Canyon City has about 1,000 acre-feet available via reservoir transfers but cautioned peak daily use can reach about 10 million gallons (~30 acre-feet).

Florence officials said the city adopted a four-level drought plan April 6 tailored to local water rights and storage. "Level 1 is mainly about education," Brandon Harris, Florence regional water superintendent, said, adding the city's Level 1 goal is about a 20% reduction in use. He outlined Level 2 triggers that would impose even/odd watering schedules and excess-use surcharges, and Level 3–4 steps that would further restrict parks, fountains, hydrant permits and bulk sales if priority-call dates are reached.

Park Center Water said its supply differs: it draws from the Pisca project and reported about 161 acre-feet in Pisca project storage and roughly 500 acre-feet potentially available in PBLO for exchange. James Wade said a BLM-owned well that serves Park Center was out of service due to stuck valves; he said BLM planned repairs and he would follow up with BLM local director Doug Mays.

Penrose Water District said it is under voluntary curtailment and has identified its largest nonessential users — about 18 high-volume accounts such as greenhouses — as the first to be curtailed if conditions worsen. Charlotte Norman said Southeast Water District was holding about 3,000 acre-feet in storage that could be used temporarily by municipalities west of PBLO, but she cautioned exchanges have administrative costs and legal constraints tied to river gauges and diversion points.

Community guidance and operations: Several providers said they would use websites and social media to post updates and notices (public meetings were announced). Florence said it would require registration and PIN access at its bulk-fill station and planned to lock access for nonlocal users at higher stages. Officials also described voluntary restaurant programs (water on request) and urged common-sense conservation such as fixing leaks and limiting car washing.

Providers and county staff emphasized outreach to avoid social-media shaming of neighbors, and a county staff member clarified that the county uses well (non-potable) water on the courthouse lawn while practicing conservation.

What happens next: Providers said boards and staff would continue to monitor river gauges, pursue any feasible exchanges or releases from storage, and push public outreach. Travis Payne announced a public meeting at 5:00 p.m. at the downtown theater for Canyon City questions and said updates would be posted to the city's website and social media.

The Fremont County officials' meeting included these status updates and did not record a formal vote on restrictions; the districts said they would move from voluntary measures to mandatory stages only if river calls or priority dates require it.