Evergreen Metro District
2022 Irrigation Season Forecast
Effective Date: April 1, 2022
The EMD irrigation season begins in May and concludes at the end of October.
This is the District’s official notification to all customers that once Drought level 2 is announced, penalty rates are in effect. There will be no grace period after this notification.
Customers and contractors need to know what the outlook for the water supply for the 2022 irrigation season is so decisions on landscape, gardens, tree planting, etc. can be made early. The District cannot eliminate the risks of drought conditions. The District also cannot guarantee that watershed conditions in April or May will always remain constant throughout the irrigation season. Individual storm events, or a lack of, can positively or negatively affect drought conditions. The intention of the District is to help all customers minimize their risks from a drought condition that could occur later in the irrigation season. The District will notify the customers of all information at our disposal related to drought conditions and response. It is the customer’s responsibility to be aware of weather and climate trends that are publicly available.
The upper Bear Creek Watershed, including Evergreen, is currently in drought condition. All of the projection data sets used by the District to evaluate and forecast irrigation season water availability indicate that drought conditions will remain in place during the 2022 irrigation season. As of March 17th, NOAA’s Spring Outlook is for drought to expand in the western United States amid warner conditions. The 3-month Seasonal Precipitation Outlooks for the entire 2022 irrigation season all indicate below to likely below average precipitation. The corresponding Seasonal Temperature Outlooks are leaning towards above average temperatures. The Colorado Climate Center expects La Niña to weaken by summer. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the entire State of Colorado remains in some level of drought condition, with Jefferson County identified as “Moderate Drought.” While the recent snow along the Front Range has been welcome, snowpack is below or near normal in most basins, but there is less optimism for a good runoff year.
As a result, the District will enter the irrigation season in Drought Level 1, with the distinct possibility that Drought Level 2 may be called by May 1st.
Once peak snowmelt and runoff has occurred, the District will continue to monitor streamflow readings and long-term weather forecasts. Any significant change to the available water supply may result in a declaration of a Drought Response Level 2 or 3.
Your Evergreen Metro District bill is comprised of both a flat fee (base rate) and a usage charge.
- The District bills water used from the prior month.
- During non-drought conditions, each customer is billed at a rate of $3.46* per thousand gallons of water used, up to 14,000 gallons, per tap equivalent.
- Residential accounts have one tap equivalent.
- All water used over 14,000 gallons each cycle is billed at a higher rate.
- There is no drought penalty rate for water consumption up to 5,000 gallons during Level 2 and 3 Drought. The first 5,000 gallons per billing cycle is billed at $3.46* per thousand gallons.
- The Level 2 drought penalty rate for water consumption over 5,000 and less than 12,000 is $6.30 per thousand gallons, and $15.75 per thousand gallons beyond the 12,000.
- The Level 3 drought penalty rates are $12.60 per thousand gallons for water consumption of between 5,000 and 7,500 gallons, and $31.50 per thousand for any consumption above 7,500.
*Please see District website for current rates for Kittredge Sanitation and Water District.
View some ideas on how to reduce your water usage or find a leak visit.
For an explanation of the billing process please call the Administration office at 303-674-4112.
Background Information:
Stay current with the latest information, including watering restrictions, by following us on Facebook (Evergreen Metropolitan District) or checking out our website. View more information about drought conditions and water precipitation.
For more information, please refer to the Water Conservation page.