Colorado reservoir levels continue dropping as summer demand picks up

Denver Water says reservoirs across its system are sitting well below normal this summer as a hot, dry drought drags on, with Dillon Reservoir, the utility's largest, already down 20 feet.

Reservoirs across Denver Water's system are at 75% of capacity overall, more than 20 percentage points below where they would normally be at this time of year, according to Denver Water.

"Dillon Reservoir is our largest reservoir; it is one of our most important reservoirs, particularly when it comes to water storage, and the water people use all year long," said Jimmy Luthye, a spokesperson for Denver Water.

As the drought drags on, Denver Water is pulling about 163 million gallons out of Dillon every day to supply homes across Denver and the surrounding suburbs, the utility said.

Denver Water is already looking ahead to next spring, and the forecast calls for continued decline. By next April, reservoirs are expected to fall to 60% to 62% of capacity, Luthye said.

"Right now we are looking at reservoirs being about 60 to 62 percent capacity, which is significantly lower than we would like them to be," Luthye said.

Luthye said the low levels underscore the need for continued conservation.

"It is very severe, very important, and really underscores why we need folks to continue to conserve, continue to follow water restrictions throughout the rest of this hot and dry summer," Luthye said.

Even a typical winter won't be enough to pull the region out of the drought, according to Luthye.

"A normal winter is not going to get us out of this drought," Luthye said.

Luthye said recovery could take years.

Jon Risk, who was camping with his two children near Dillon Reservoir, said the drop in water levels is noticeable.

"A lot more exposed shoreline, that's for sure. Ugh, lower water in general; that's everywhere," Risk said.

Risk said the conditions have changed how his family spends time on the water, recalling a previous visit when his family got caught in a squall while kayaking.

"Still having fun, but not as much time out on the water probably as we might have been doing," Risk said.

Despite the changes, Risk said the summer has offered his children a chance to learn about conservation.