A Humbling View of Colorado’s Largest Reservoir: Its Snowpack 

For many, the start of 2026 has been filled with joy as warm, dry weather has allowed more people to pursue their New Year’s resolutions outside. What could be the downside?  

Unfortunately, that same weather pattern has left the state’s largest reservoir, its snowpack, far below its average for this time of year. Here’s what we know right now—with the water outlook for summer still waiting to be determined.  

Emily Carbone, water resources specialist at Northern Water, said this year’s snowpack in the Upper Colorado River basin are at 57 percent of their average. The snowpack in the South Platte River basin is at 66 percent. This is important because the South Platte River basin produces the base water supply needed for the farms and cities of northeastern Colorado, and the Upper Colorado River basin supplies most of the water in the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, which supplements the local supplies. The Upper Colorado River basin also supplies the Windy Gap Project, used by several municipalities in the region.