As Colorado endures one of its driest and warmest stretches in recent memory, the town of Erie has officially entered Stage 2 drought response with the Town Council\u2019s unanimous approval of a declaration aimed at reducing outdoor water use.<\/p>\n
Erie Utilities Director Todd Fessenden framed the declaration as a \u201cproactive\u201d step designed to curb water demand early rather than waiting until hotter summer months make conservation more difficult.<\/p>\n
The Tuesday declaration from the council formalizes Erie\u2019s already-recommended voluntary two-day-per-week watering schedule, which the town had encouraged residents to follow in early April<\/a> after a water shortage directive<\/a> issued on March 20 \u2014 urging the public to keep sprinklers off \u2014 was lifted.<\/p>\n Erie is continuing to ask even-numbered addresses to water on Monday and Thursday, and odd-numbered addresses to water on Tuesday and Friday. An optional third watering day on weekends would be announced if town staff determine additional watering is necessary based on weather conditions.\n<\/p>\n Town officials have reiterated that watering should occur only between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.<\/p>\n \u201cWe did not officially enter Stage 1,\u201d town spokesperson Gabi Rae said, adding: \u201cWe are entering Stage 2 directly because we believe the conditions warrant it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Proactive\u2019 water conservation<\/p>\n Town officials say Erie is not facing an immediate water supply crisis.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile the current water shortage index may not independently trigger a Stage 2 declaration, observed conditions including a historically low snowpack, expected high irrigation demand, as well as regional conditions and actions warrant the Stage 2 declaration,\u201d Fessenden wrote in a memo to the Town Council.<\/p>\n Erie\u2019s water rights portfolio remains \u201cstrong,\u201d his memo says. But, it adds: \u201cIf we wait until summer to react, the ability to meaningfully reduce peak demand is limited. Once irrigation timers are set, it\u2019s more difficult to change.\u201d<\/p>\n Dylan King, a sustainability and water conservation specialist for Erie, said the Stage 2 declaration, as defined by the town\u2019s Drought and Water Supply Shortage Plan, includes outreach and conservation measures aimed at some of Erie\u2019s largest water users.<\/p>\n The town\u2019s staff plans to work with homeowners associations, school districts, landscapers and facilities such as Colorado National Golf Club to encourage voluntary reductions and improve irrigation efficiency, King told the council during a Tuesday presentation. Town staff also plans to contact high residential water users \u2014 specifically those billed under Tier 3 and Tier 4 usage levels \u2014 to encourage conservation and offer free water audits.<\/p>\n Erie\u2019s Parks & Recreation Department \u201chas already committed\u201d to reduce its irrigation use on \u201cheavily used\u201d athletic fields and park spaces by 20% compared with averages from recent years, according to town staff.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \u201cI think all of our residents understand all of Colorado, and a lot of the West, is going through the same challenges,\u201d Councilmember John Mortellaro said prior to the council\u2019s vote on Tuesday evening. \u201cIn a voluntary stage \u2026 if we all volunteer and we do the right things, hopefully we can stay out of Stage 3.\u201d<\/p>\n Erie\u2019s primary water source is the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, which is delivered via pipeline from Carter Lake. Windy Gap is a secondary water source, which is delivered to the town of Erie from the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District.<\/p>\n In March, a spokesperson for the water district told the Daily Camera that community water portfolios across the Front Range will \u201ccertainly see impacts\u201d from a warm winter with low snowfall.<\/p>\n