By Justin Ramsey
Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD) will remain in Drought Stage 1. will remain in Drought Stage 1. Stage 1 limits irrigation between the hours of 6:00pm and 9:00am, and a tier rate multiplier will be applied to flows above 5,000 gallons of water per billing cycle for residential users. In our area, it’s most effective to irrigate between evening and early morning because the cooler, calmer conditions allow water to soak into the soil instead of being lost to the sun and wind. During the day, high temperatures, low humidity, and frequent afternoon winds drive up evapotranspiration, meaning much of the applied water evaporates or drifts away before it can benefit plants. By irrigating from about 6pm to 9am, more water reaches the root zone, coverage is more uniform, and plants are better able to absorb moisture, making the process both more efficient and healthier for vegetation.
Hatcher Reservoir is currently holding constant.
Flow in the San Juan River continues to drop. Current flow is 482 cfs, compared to the median of 1,340 cfs. Last year’s flow on this date was 823 cfs.
The National Integrated Drought Information System has placed our area into a Severe Drought.
The District greatly appreciates everyone’s continued diligence in conserving water. If you have any questions regarding the current Drought Management Plan, it can be found on the website at https://www.pawsd.org/water-service/water-conservation/
Justin Ramsey is District Engineer at PAWSD.