Drought Stage 1 (Current)
Drought Stage 2
Drought Stage 3
Both Surfside Spray Park and the splash pad at Ray Ross Park are planned to be operational Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend until further notice.
The water used at the spray parks is filtered and recycled so that very little water is required once the facility is operational for the season.
The city will not conduct annual plantings or fill flower beds. Signs will be placed in high-profile beds to let visitors know why nothing has been planted. Some drinking fountains will also be shut off. Continuing updates will be provided at LakewoodCO.gov/Drought.
To prepare, the city has updated its drought response and water restriction plan. While this plan will need to remain fluid based on evolving conditions and restrictions, it provides a solid foundation for decisions during the warmer months for city parks, street medians, Bear Creek Lake Park, arts and recreational facilities, and golf courses.
Lakewood parks will look a little different this year. Parks will concentrate and prioritize irrigation application on athletic fields and high-use areas to maintain safety standards for locations with ongoing programs.
The city also has significant data collected that helps determine how much water is needed to avoid renovation or removal of park vegetation or turfgrass, which becomes costly and detrimental to the public’s use of the park and ballfields in the long run.
The city has been dedicated to water conservation for decades, which has resulted in significantly lower application rates of water. Lakewood has used 30-40 percent less water than required even by Denver Water’s current drought recommendations for cities. This work has positioned Lakewood to effectively manage continuing drought restrictions. See graphic below.
Even with the historically low use shown in the graphic, Lakewood will reduce water use even further to meet requirements for municipalities
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A fire ban may be implemented at any time if conditions are particularly dry and fire danger increases. Depending on the stage of fire ban implemented, fires may be allowed in designated fire rings and grills, or fires may be banned entirely with the exception of gas grills and stoves. Information will be provided at LakewoodCO.gov/Drought as conditions change.
The city’s parks and other facilities are served by 16 different water districts, and these providers will institute their own drought restrictions with which the city will comply. Watering restrictions for municipalities, however, are different from those for residences.
Water used for golf course watering including the irrigation of shrubs and landscaping materials around the club houses is raw, untreated water from Bear Creek, which is fed by snow melt and springs in the Bear Creek Watershed in the Mount Blue Sky area. This water is from water rights the city owns. As such, the water used does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Denver Water Board or any other water district and their policies.
It has no effect on homeowner’s domestic water supply.
On average, the golf courses use significantly less water than homeowners due to the desire to provide firm and drier turf. Daily irrigation, when required, takes many factors into account, some of which include on-site weather station data, evaporation rates, humidity and forecasts. All these tools ensure the most efficient water use possible.
Shutting off sprinkler heads in non-play areas; modifying cultural practices that include raising mowing heights and frequency; curtailing fertilizing to slow growth. In addition, the golf course will not be planting or watering annual flowers this season. The golf courses have developed reduced irrigation programs aligned to the drought stages that will be implemented should drought conditions persist and require it.
Additional measures include construction of a new irrigation system at Fox Hollow Golf Course completed in 2022 that has resulted in a 10-15 percent reduction in water use for the course. Staff is also evaluating cold tolerant grass in select areas on the courses and implementing a five-year plan to convert 10 percent of irrigated turf to native plantings that need less water.
Currently, the beach area is open but may need to be altered due to water levels in Big Soda Lake. Big Soda Lake will be reduced by 200-acre feet in water levels and will be safe for swimming unless further withdrawals occur. Currently the swim beach is planned to open the weekend prior to Memorial Day weekend. If drought conditions persist, there is a chance that water levels will drop enough to warrant closure of the swimming area.
Yes, water levels permitting.
Bear Creek Reservoir currently remains open to fishing. Due to low-water levels in Bear Creek Reservoir, the boat ramp is closed, and boats are allowed to be hand launched only. There is also a chance of heavy algae growth and poor fishing conditions this summer that could warrant closure.
The campground is currently open. The campground water supply is dependent on the water flow in Turkey Creek. Park staff will make all efforts to maintain water supply in the campground, but supply could be limited under extreme drought conditions, warranting closure of the campground.
The flows in Bear Creek determine if the city can supply water to the north side of Bear Creek Lake Park. Currently, low water in Bear Creek is causing issues, and water is not currently available at Mountain View, Skunk Hollow and Coyote Crossing shelters. Water will be available at the campground fill station.
These reservoirs are already very low this season. The water is owned and controlled by the Agricultural Ditch Company, and there are heavy demands on the supply. The ditch company is hopeful that there will be enough run-off on Clear Creek to allow the reservoirs to be filled, but this is not likely to occur before early June, if at all. Poor fishing conditions and fish die-offs are possible in these reservoirs, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife may limit or cancel fish stocking.