Please help the District Conserve Water - Ongoing Declaration of SEVERE Drought
Please continute to use only what you need to maintain water availability as long as possible this summer!
1-day per week watering continues
Due to severe drought conditions in the Buckhorn Valley community and region, 1-day per week watering continues. We need your continuted help to ensure water lasts a long a possible this irrigation season.
Thank you everyone for your continued cooperation! Please check system timers again, watch for leaks and contact us for assistance.
The Eagle River, which is the primary source to replenish the irrigation system's water, continues to flow at levels too low to physically pump water to the District's reservoir. Actual usage and demand over the last 2-weeks during the declared Severe Drought Schedule (1-day per week watering) indicate that water use will likely exceed available water in the reservoir. What does this mean? The watering season may end early.
Homeowners are requested to follow the District's Conservation Policy in order to avoid an early season shut-off. The District hopes to make water last as long as possible, but cannot deliver water if the reservoir level and irrigation system pressure drop too low.
Water will not be available for irrigation other than Tuesdays.
Please take a moment to review the Conservation Policy.
Key information from the Policy is listed below:
Watering times are to be only between the hours of 12:00a.m. to 10:00a.m. and 6:00p.m. to 11:59p.m. on each of the watering days (no watering during the hours of 10:00a.m. to 6:00p.m.).
No new lawns (spray-irrigated turf areas) may be installed.
Lawn watering should be suspended during high wind days, rain, snow or other weather conditions that would impede watering efficacy or could replace irrigation water application.
Irrigation zone run times for all watering schedules “Normal, Drought, Severe Drought:”
- Pop-up spray heads- zone run times should be limited to 10 minutes
- Low-impact impulse sprinklers- zone run times should be limited to 30 minutes
- Drip systems- zone run times should be limited to 30 minutes
- Control systems
- All new irrigation systems shall be equipped with electronic irrigation control systems
- All existing District customers are encouraged to install electronic irrigation controls, if they do not already have one
- No hand watering of trees, shrubs, annual plantings, vegetable/fruit/herb gardens at any time
- No hand watering of turfgrass lawn areas is allowed at any time.
Please read on for additional information, including prohibitions on outdoor use of potable water provided by the Town of Gypsum. Use of Town Water could result in fines, per the Town's Policies.
Thank you everyone for doing your part to help our water last as long as possible this summer!
Declared 'Severe Drought' Schedule
At the Board meeting on Thursday July 2nd, the Board reviewed the current summer water use relative to reservoir levels and river flow levels. Unfortunately, due to the unprecedented water situation this summer, these measures must be instituted in order to ensure water will be available for as long as possible this summer.
Based on the current flow levels, the the District will not be able to pump water from the river to sufficiently recover or increase levels in the reservoir moving forward. At the current 2-day per week schedule, the reservoir's supply does not provide enough water through the end of the irrigation season.
Given the high use relative to current and future water availability, a SEVERE DROUGHT schedule was declared to ensure water can be available as long as possible summer. Modifying the schedule from 2-days per week to 1-day per week will allow the water supply to last longer, hopefully through the full typical irrigation season with sufficient amount to keep lawns, trees and shrubs alive.
This applies to all residential, commercial, District and HOA systems. We appreciate your help in protecting our local water resources and staying in compliance with town regulations.
Handwatering from hoses attached to homes is subject to the policies for potable water use by the Town of Gypsum. Using treated Town of Gypsum water for outdoor irrigation (such as lawns, gardens, or landscaping) is illegal in the Buckhorn community and can result in significant fines under the Gypsum Municipal Code. Information related to the Town's indoor water supply is available on their website: www.townofgypsum.com/water-and-sewer, https://www.townofgypsum.com/drought-information, https://www.townofgypsum.com/drought-information?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery (see Water and Irrigation dropdown information).
Handwatering from hosebibs attached to irrigation valves is also prohibited.
Please read the full policy and additional information below.
Beginning the week of July 13th watering is now 1-day per week - on Tuesdays ONLY.
Please plan in advance to water on Tuesdays only for the rest of the season by adjusting irrigation system timers accordingly.
Watering must be performed before 10AM and after 6PM. All watering should still be performed in the morning or evening. Should water and flow levels permit, and at the sole discretion of the District Operator, more information will be provided if additional watering days will be possible.
For more information on the following please read below or visit the District’s website:
- The full Emergency Water Conservation Policy and 1-page quick guide (below).
- Irrigation system programming support requests by District Operators.
- Emergency one-directional text number for irrigation leaks or damage reporting.
- Additional Drought conditions, outdoor plant and water management resources.
- Additional contacts and resources for the Irrigation system startup and operations.
Thank you for your cooperation and partnership in following this policy. By adopting these practices together, we hope the community will enjoy water as long as possible this summer season!
Please click on the link below to read the policy.
BVMD Water Conservation Policy - May 5 2026 FINALDrought Policy Quick Reference One Page Guide
Additional Drought Updates
Owners and residents of the community are encouraged to continue to plan for a very dry season given the unprecendented drought the area is experiencing. Neighboring water and irrrigation water providers in the Eagle Valley, along the Eagle River and Colorado River are instituting their own conservation measures.
Please note that Buckhorn Valley Metro District 1 is the irrigation water provider to the Buckhorn Community. The Town of Gypsum provides indoor treated water for the Buckhorn Valley Community.
Using treated Town of Gypsum water for outdoor irrigation (such as lawns, gardens, or landscaping) is illegal in the Buckhorn community and can result in significant fines under the Gypsum Municipal Code. We appreciate your help in protecting our local water resources and staying in compliance with town regulations. Information related to the Town's indoor water supply is available on their website: www.townofgypsum.com/water-and-sewer, https://www.townofgypsum.com/drought-information, https://www.townofgypsum.com/drought-information?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery (see Water and Irrigation dropdown information).
You may have received informational communications from your HOA noting other Water and Irrigation Districts that are implementing conservation measures or drought restrictions. Again, please note that the only irrigation water service provider in the Buckhorn Valley Community is the Buckhorn Valley Metropolitan District No. 1.
Neighborhood HOAs and owners are responsible for maintenance of their segments of the irrigation system in common areas and backyards after the connection to the system. However the District's Operators and management are happy to help if you have questions about these details. Read further down for more about irrigation techincal support.
Additional information related to the historic drought is available through various organizations and in numerous articles, as well as plans and declarations from neighboring water suppliers.
Some examples are below:
Water Education Colorado: https://watereducationcolorado.org/
Colorado River Water Conservation District Water News: https://www.coloradoriverdistrict.org/water-news/
Heat Wipes Out Western Snowpack, Raising Fears of Drought, Wildfire, Article, New York Times
Eagle County Drought Information: https://www.drought.gov/states/colorado/county/eagle
Town of Gypsum: https://www.townofgypsum.com/drought-information
Town of Eagle: https://www.townofeagle.org/580/Current-Restrictions
Eagle River Water and Sanitation District's water conservation policy and article
Water Conservation
We appreciate everyone's efforts to maintain your landscaping while conserving water. The Conservation Plan, aims to ensure the entire community can access water throughout the season. Thanks for helping us make the water last all season!
Research-based tips on watering your landscaping to keep plants and lawns alive and more resilient, even if they are in a dormant phase during a drought cycle, as well as planting, watering, maintenance and low-water landscaping information can be found on the CSU Extension website:
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic/garden-landscape/
The Colorado State Forest Service Fire Prevention website has additional information about wildfire preparation and safety, including landscape maintenance tips: csfs.colostate.edu/wildfire-mitigation/protect-your-home-property-from-wildfire/
Technical Assistance Program and Leak/Damage Reporting
If you would like the District's Operation team to assist you in programming your backyard irrigation, please reach out to us at info@ccrider.us to schedule a visit.
NEW this year: The District now has an enhanced damage reporting system. To report irrigation damages or leaks 24/7 during the watering season, TEXT (970) 519-5444. For more information vist the District's contact us page. Please note this new number can only receive texts. Other questions or communications should be directed to us via email or the District's general phone during regular business hours.
New home irrigation systems are subject to an Inspection by the District's Operator and payment of the Irrigation Tap Fee prior to irrigation water being turned on. For questions email info@ccrider.us.
A recent (incomplete) list of regional Mountain West drought declarations is available here.
Additional link for water and fire restrictions: https://www.roaringfork.org/drought/drought-response/
Town of Gypsum
Phase II-Mandatory (3-days per week even/odd alternating; no watering Mondays; no watering 8am-6pm)
https://www.townofgypsum.com/drought-information
Eagle River Water and Sanitation District (Vail, Avon, Edwards +)
Stage III-Mandatory Water Shortage Declaration (2-days per week even/odd alternating; not watering Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays; no watering 8am-8pm)
https://www.erwsd.org/water-use-regulations
Town of Eagle
Stage 2-Mandatory (3-days per week even/odd alternating; no watering Mondays; no watering 10am-5pm)
https://www.townofeagle.org/580/Current-Restrictions
City of Glenwood Springs
Watering Schedule (Odd addresses water on odd days of the month; even addresses water on even days of the month; no watering 10am-6pm)
https://www.cogs.us/657/Watering-Schedule-Horario-de-riego
Town of Basalt
Stage 1-Mandatory (3-days per week even/odd alternating; no watering Mondays)
https://www.basalt.net/m/newsflash/home/detail/678
City of Aspen
Mandatory Irrigation Schedule-(Odd addresses water on odd days of the month; even addresses water on even days of the month; no watering 10am-6pm)
https://www.aspen.gov/203/Water
Town of Carbondale
No declaration at this time
Snowmass Village
Mandatory-(North/South Zones every other day alternating; no watering 9am-6pm)
https://www.swsd.org/watering-schedule
Grand County
Exceptional Drought-no lawn watering residential/community; voluntary vegetable garden reductions, water-wise landscapes 1x/month max
https://www.co.grand.co.us/DocumentCenter/View/19662/Stage-3-Exceptional-Drought---Final?bidId=
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