Stage 1 Water Restrictions Effective April 1, 2026

 Lake Durango Water Authority (LDWA) is required to institute water restrictions based on the amount of water stored in the lake.  At this time the lake level is at 752 acre feet, requiring that Stage 1 restrictions be implemented. As a customer of LDWA, Durango West 2 is required to follow their water restrictions dictating outside water usage.

Effective April 1st, outside watering is limited to two hours per day, two days per week 7 am to 9 am or 7 pm to 9 pm.  Hoses may be used but may not be left unattended without sprinkler head or control device (open running hoses may not be left unattended).  Car/boat/recreational vehicle washing is not permitted. Watering potted plants with pails, buckets, or watering cans is allowed at any time.  The DW2 Board may revisit the designated watering days at its next meeting. See below for more information on LDWA water restriction stages.

LDWA receives water from Lake Nighthorse each year, and a portion of that amount is from storage already in Lake Nighthorse, and the balance is from the Animas River.  LDWA can only obtain the Animas River water during the months of April and May, and therefore that pumping will commence on April 1 or shortly thereafter and will continue into May as available. The balance of the water (from Nighthorse storage) will be pumped after all available river water is received.

The pumping of the Animas River water will hopefully bring the lake level above 800 acre feet as we approach the end of April or beginning of May, which will result in water restrictions being lifted. However, unless we begin receiving moisture in the form of snow or rain in April or May, and begin having some cloudier days, that level will quickly drop below 800 acre feet again, requiring LDWA restrictions to again be instituted. 

Because we seem to be in a continuing drought pattern, the likelihood of restrictions being in place throughout the summer is great, and those restrictions will most likely be higher than Stage 1 as time progresses. It is suggested that landscaping installations be delayed until conditions change.  If owners choose to add plantings, it would be prudent to ensure they are fully xeric in nature, since outside watering will almost assuredly be limited and perhaps even prohibited this summer.

Lake Durango Water Authority Water Use RestrictionsAuthority shall implement water restrictions by stage based on water levels of the Lake Durango Reservoir as follows:
Lake Durango Reservoir Level (acre feet) – Stages of Restriction
800 or more – No Restriction
600-799 – Stage I
400-599 – Stage II
250-400 – Stage III
Below 250 – Stage IV
(1) Stage 1: Outside watering is limited to two hours per day, two days per week 7 am to 9 am or 7 pm to 9 pm.  Hoses may be used but may not be left unattended without sprinkler head or control device (open running hoses may not be left unattended).  Car/boat/recreational vehicle washing is not permitted. Watering potted plants with pails, buckets, or watering cans is allowed at any time.
(2) Stage 2: Outside watering is limited to two hours, one day per week, 7 am to 9 am or 7 pm to 9 pm). All other restrictions of Stage 1 apply.
(3) Stage 3: No outside watering is permitted. All other restrictions of Stage 1 apply.
(4) Stage 4: No outside use of water in any fashion is permitted. Limits on the inside household use of water will be implemented. Strict adherence to the limits will be required.

Effective April 1, 2026 LDWA Stage 1 Restrictions will be in place

Questions can be directed to LDWA at 970-247-4062