Colorado Declares Statewide Water Emergency

DENVER, CO — Colorado officials declared a statewide water emergency Monday following the release of alarming data showing snowpack levels at just 42% of the historical average—the lowest in recorded history for the third consecutive year.

Governor Eric Latham announced immediate water conservation mandates, including reduced irrigation for agriculture, restrictions on residential lawn watering, and limits on industrial water use. Urban centers like Denver and Colorado Springs will also face tiered water pricing to encourage lower consumption.

“This is not a temporary drought,” Latham warned during a press conference. “It’s a new reality, and Colorado must adapt now to protect our ecosystems, our farmers, and our future.”

Environmental scientists say the decline is tied to rising temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns in the Rocky Mountains. The Colorado River Basin, already strained, may face further reductions to downstream states under federal compacts.

Farmers in the San Luis Valley and Western Slope are bracing for severe crop losses, while conservation groups are calling for accelerated investment in water recycling and drought-resistant infrastructure.

As the state scrambles to respond, officials say this may be the beginning of a long-term shift in how Coloradans use and value their most precious resource: water.