Most of you are probably aware that much of Colorado has been going through a substantial period of drought. The wildfires that this state experienced last summer, which lasted well into late fall, were indicative of these extremely dry conditions. In fact, a large portion of the West, from Montana to New Mexico and Colorado to the Pacific Coast, is experiencing some degree of water shortages.

This winter the Colorado Mountains have been receiving less snow than they normally do. Even after the record snowfall of March 13th and 14th, the snowpack in the South Platte River Basin, which includes the Poudre River drainage, still measured less than 100% of average. Statewide Colorado's snowpack has been shown to be approximately 92% of normal at the time of this writing (mid-March).

Fortunately for the Fort Collins area residents, it appears there are sufficient water reserves for the upcoming summer season for both residential and commercial landscape use. The Horsetooth Outlet Project upgrade was completed by early November and Horsetooth Reservoir is fast on its way to becoming full, most likely by late May or early June.

Thankfully, it doesn't seem water restrictions will be imposed this growing season, although the Northern Colorado Water Conservation District hasn't announced that determination yet. We can only hope that extreme weather occurrences don’t put a wrinkle in that prediction!