Durango Enacts Lawn Watering Restrictions Amid Drought

City cites record-low snowpack and warm temperatures as reasons for new water rules

Apr. 10, 2026 at 10:49pm

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A vast, atmospheric landscape painting in muted earth tones, with a small, isolated house dwarfed by the expansive, arid terrain, conveying the overwhelming scale and severity of the drought conditions facing the city of Durango.Durango's sweeping, drought-stricken landscape underscores the urgent need for water conservation measures across the community.Durango Today

The city of Durango, Colorado has announced stage 1 water restrictions effective immediately, limiting residential lawn irrigation to just three days per week. The restrictions come in response to record-low snowpack and snow-water equivalent levels, as well as unseasonably warm temperatures and little precipitation, which have resulted in a critical water supply shortage.

Why it matters

Durango's water restrictions aim to reduce the city's daily water demand by 20%, as lawn irrigation makes up 70% of the city's total water use. The new rules are part of the city's 2020 Drought Management Plan, which lists Durango, Fort Lewis College, and Hillcrest Golf Club as the top water users in the area.

The details

Under the stage 1 restrictions, residents with odd-numbered addresses can water on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, while even-numbered addresses can water on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. All residents are prohibited from outdoor irrigation on Wednesdays. Violators could face penalties ranging from a written warning to a $300 fine and disconnection from the water system.

  • The water restrictions went into effect immediately on Friday, April 10, 2026.
  • The city plans to reduce irrigation on its own properties by an additional 10% and take other measures to conserve water at city buildings.

The players

John Harris

Public Works Director for the city of Durango, who revised the stage 1 and 2 water restrictions to implement actual requirements rather than just advisory measures.

Tom Sluis

City spokesman for Durango, who stated that code enforcement officers will typically try to educate residents before issuing citations for water restriction violations.

Nardy Bickel

Spokeswoman for Fort Lewis College, who said the college is aligning efforts with Durango Parks and Recreation to reduce its water consumption by 20%.

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What they’re saying

“These factors have resulted in a critical water supply shortage as defined in the city's 2020 Municipal Drought Management Plan.”

— City of Durango

“The goal with stage 1 restrictions is to reduce the city's daily water demand by 20%.”

— John Harris, Public Works Director

What’s next

Should the city enact revised stage 2 restrictions, residents would be prohibited from personal vehicle washings and running outdoor fountains, water docks would be restricted to indoor use only, and the city would stop washing its fleet vehicles entirely except for public health purposes.

The takeaway

Durango's new water restrictions highlight the growing challenges cities face in managing limited water resources during periods of drought and climate change. The measures aim to significantly reduce residential and municipal water usage, with the potential for even stricter rules if conditions worsen.