Eagle River Valley residents have their work cut out for them over the next two years. By 2026, the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District (ERWSD) wants to see a reduction in regional water use by 400-acre feet. For context, that’s the equivalent of 400 acres of land covered in one foot of water. If that sounds like a lot, it is — and that’s the point. Half-hearted efforts are no longer enough to address the diminishing water supply in the Colorado River Basin. It’s time for us all to use water differently.
A recent study on the aridification of Colorado River Basin’s snowpack regions highlights, “a 10.3% reduction in Colorado Basin’s present-day natural flow,” since 1880 as a result of climate change. “Without this warming,” the study adds, “the Colorado Basin would have had significantly larger amounts of water available, equal to the size of Lake Mead, over the duration of the 2000-2021 megadrought.” 86% of those water losses stem from the aridification, or drying out, of snowpack regions within the Colorado River Basin.
Seeing that as over 40 million people rely on water sourced from the Colorado River Basin, this data speaks to not only a climate crisis, but also a humanitarian one. Both the land and its people stand to suffer even more of a shortage in supply over the coming years without significant action to reduce water use as well as greenhouse gas emissions.
One incentive to use less water may be cost. Water rates are going up across the United States due to aging infrastructure and regulatory mandates, and the Eagle River Valley is no exception. ERWSD recently fixed an inequity in their water use rate structure that had allowed larger properties to use more water before bumping into a higher price category. While this change may have little effect on those who use water efficiently, customers who don’t will see the difference. Water use for larger landscapes, especially with lawns that require a lot of water, will cost more from now on.
Whatever your motivator, whether it be protecting local rivers and streams, ensuring public health and safety, or being fiscally responsible, watching your water use will benefit all. ERWSD reports that 95% of water used indoors goes directly back to local waterways after being treated in one of its wastewater treatment facilities. This is significant when compared to the only 25% that
makes its way to local rivers and streams from outdoor water use. This data indcates that the biggest positive impact for water conservation is in reducing outdoor water use rather than indoor use.
When it comes to irrigation, consider how much water your plants and lawn really need. Speak to a gardening expert like Eagle resident Lindsay Graves of Fourth Street Farm to determine actual water requirements for your landscape. Set your irrigation timers based on that information using a Smart Meter so you never go overboard, even accidentally. Take it even further by replacing thirsty lawn with native vegetation that requires less water. “Replacing lawn with native, drought-tolerant landscaping will not only beautify your yard,” ERWSD explains, “but also provide pollinator habitat, create diversity, improve soil health, reduce your water use and save you money in the long term.”
And speaking of money, pay attention to your water bill. Use it as a metric to gauge how much you’re spending as well as how much you’re using. The lower your bill, the more you benefit yourself and water supply in your community. ERWSD even offers water efficiency rebates to sweeten the deal. Replacing lawn with native, drought-tolerant alternatives can earn you up to $2 per square foot, for example. Visit erwsd.org/conservation/ water-efficiency-rebates for all rebates available to ERWSD customers.
The amount of depressing data on the diminishing availability of natural resources that we so often take for granted is only becoming more common. But let’s remember that “common” does not equate to “normal” unless we let it. Nothing about a 10.3% reduction in flow and water losses the size of Lake Mead, the nation’s largest reservoir, is normal.