City of Colorado Springs / Emergency Management / Weather Information / Local Weather Hazards / Drought

Drought

Drought is a water shortage that occurs when moisture levels are below those needed to sustain an area's usual water-consuming activities. A severe drought occurs when annual precipitation levels are only 70% of the average. Colorado receives an average of only 17 inches of precipitation each year (including snowfall). Combine that with a cycle of unusually hot and dry summers, and our state is a prime candidate for drought conditions.
 
In 2002, Colorado only received 60% of the average annual precipitation. The State's Conservation and Drought Planning Department estimated that the financial impact on agriculture, tourism, and recreation during 2002 was $1.1 billion. Due to these severe conditions, Colorado Springs was put under mandatory water restrictions in 2002. In October of 2005, City Council lifted the restrictions, and asked local citizens to take part in voluntary water conservation. Current water restrictions for Colorado Springs can be found at www.csu.org.

Additional information is available at the following sites: 

Colorado Division of Emergency Management
Colorado Drought Facts
 
Colorado Springs Utilities
Colorado Springs Water Restrictions
Additional Drought Resources
 
Colorado Water Conservation Board
http://cwcb.state.co.us/Conservation/