At the regional level, the Northern Water Board of Directors also is looking at how water will be managed in 2026 and beyond. In April, the Board set the allocation of Colorado-Big Thompson Project water at 80 percent, which was below the 100 percent quota that Northern Water staff said would be justified to meet the needs of the region. Board members said they recognized the need to be conservative and to look at the potential needs in 2027 and beyond.
Northern Water will continue leading efforts to expand water storage opportunities through projects such as Chimney Hollow Reservoir and the Northern Integrated Supply Project and monitor how current board policies can help water providers, irrigators and industries to optimize their water supplies.
On the West Slope, efforts to store water during previous winters left Lake Granby above average heading into this year’s high-demand season. This year’s reduced snowpack will likely bring the reservoir to a lower level than has been seen in several years, however. Officials from Northern Water, the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Forest Service and others have met with marina owners at Colorado-Big Thompson Project reservoirs to discuss conditions that will be faced this year and into 2027.
Northern Water will continue to serve as a resource for residents, offering water‑efficient landscape design templates, keeping its Conservation Gardens open daily during daylight hours and encouraging regional communities to consider water conservation measures to maximize efficiency. Northern Water will continue to assess the impacts of this year’s low snowpack on local food and fiber production, sharing confirmed data with the public.