Boulder reservoirs hold after record-tying dry year

• The city will reassess conditions in spring 2027.

State of play: Coming off a record dry year, local reservoirs entered October 76% full — below the 88% average for this time of year but enough to get the city through the next few months.

Zoom in: Boulder received 10.65 inches of precipitation from October 2025-September 2026, tying 1965-66 for the driest on record, Peter Goble, assistant state climatologist at CSU's Colorado Climate Center, tells Axios.

• Rain measured in town tells only part of the story. Most of Boulder's water comes from mountain snow, runoff and storage.
• Boulder Creek Basin snowpack finished at about 55% of the 30-year average. On some April days, it was the lowest on record.

By the numbers: Water use in Boulder jumped about 15% above average in April as heat and drought set in.

• After the city asked residents to hold off on lawn irrigation, demand returned to about the five-year average.

Yes, but: Another weak snow season could force mandatory restrictions.

What's next: The city will track snowpack through May and watch runoff before deciding whether voluntary conservation remains enough.