Silverthorne CO Water Restrictions 2026
Published:
Summit County· Colorado
On May 1, 2026, the Willow Brook Metropolitan District board approved an emergency drought resolution banning all outdoor water use in the Ruby Ranch community. The ban covers irrigation, landscaping, car washing, outdoor cleaning, and pool or hot tub filling using district water. Hot tubs and pools may only be filled with water hauled in from outside the district. The board cited severe drought across the Upper Colorado River Basin and Summit County, and what officials described as Colorado’s hottest and driest winter on record. The declaration runs through the end of 2026 unless the board votes to lift it earlier. This page covers the Willow Brook — Ruby Ranch service area; Town of Silverthorne residents on the town utility are NOT automatically covered.
Current Status
Willow Brook Metropolitan District is operating under an emergency drought declaration as of May 1, 2026 — a complete outdoor-water ban that is the most severe local response currently active in Colorado. There is no day-of-week schedule and no allowed-hours window: outdoor irrigation, drip, hand watering with district water, car washing, and pool or hot tub filling with district water are all prohibited. Indoor water use is not restricted. Fines start at up to $1,000 first offense and double for repeats; the district may suspend service for continued non-compliance. The board is expected to reassess based on summer precipitation, well-level recovery, and 2026–27 winter snowpack — an early lift before December is unlikely given the severity of conditions cited.
Watering Schedule by Address
Under the emergency declaration there is no watering schedule — all outdoor use of district water is banned for Ruby Ranch addresses through the end of 2026. The table below summarises what is and is not permitted.
| Group | Watering Days |
|---|---|
| All Willow Brook / Ruby Ranch addresses | Outdoor irrigation BANNED — no day or hour permits use of district water outdoors |
| Pool / hot tub filling | District water prohibited; hauled water from outside the district allowed |
| Indoor water use | Not restricted by this declaration |
Town of Silverthorne residents NOT served by Willow Brook Metropolitan District should verify their status separately at silverthorne.org or by calling Silverthorne Public Works at 970-262-7300 — the town utility operates under different rules. The Eagle River Water and Sanitation District (serving Vail and the Eagle Valley) is a separate provider with its own Stage 3 schedule.
What’s Restricted Beyond Lawn Watering
The ban targets every outdoor use of Willow Brook district water: irrigation, drip systems, hand watering, car washing at home, exterior cleaning, hosing down driveways, and the filling of pools, hot tubs, and ornamental water features. Hot tubs and pools may still be operated using water hauled in by a licensed bulk-water supplier from outside the district — several Summit County suppliers offer scheduled deliveries. Established trees and high-value shrubs cannot legally be irrigated with district water during the ban; many Ruby Ranch property owners have arranged hauled-water deliveries for tree preservation. Indoor water use, including dishwashers, laundry, and showers, is not restricted by this declaration.
Fines and Enforcement
Willow Brook Metropolitan District has authorised civil penalties starting at up to $1,000 for first-offence outdoor watering or unauthorised pool filling violations under the emergency declaration. Penalties double for repeated violations and the district may suspend water service for continued non-compliance. Compliance is tied to the district meter address, so second-home owners and short-term rental operators are responsible regardless of who is on site. Disable irrigation timers before leaving the property unattended.
HOA Protection in Silverthorne
Colorado law (HB 21-1229) prohibits HOAs from requiring water-intensive landscaping, mandating cool-season turf, or penalizing homeowners for xeriscaping or drought-tolerant landscaping. The statute goes further than most US states by actively protecting homeowners who convert their lawns to drought-tolerant alternatives, even outside of declared drought periods. Combined with the City of Denver's public statement that brown lawns are expected during active restrictions, any HOA fine threatened against a brown lawn caused by following local restrictions is on weak legal ground. Keep a copy of your utility's restriction notice and the relevant city ordinance to share with your HOA board if a violation notice arrives.
Lawn Survival Guide for Silverthorne
Ruby Ranch sits at roughly 9,000 ft elevation in Summit County, where Kentucky Bluegrass is the dominant lawn grass. Under the emergency ban, KBG will go fully dormant and — if the crown survives — recover automatically when restrictions ease. The tug test confirms whether brown turf is dormant or dead.
- All outdoor irrigation is banned through end of 2026 — turn off automatic sprinkler systems entirely and disable scheduled programs.
- Kentucky Bluegrass at Ruby Ranch elevation will go fully dormant; recovery in spring 2027 is automatic if crowns survive the winter.
- Trees and high-value shrubs are the priority — you cannot use district water on them under the ban. Plan now for hauled-water deliveries from a licensed Summit County bulk-water supplier.
- Hot tub and pool owners must purchase and haul water from outside the district — budget for this expense before opening the season.
- Second-home and short-term rental owners: violations are tied to the meter address, not occupancy. Disable irrigation timers before leaving.
- Indoor water use is not restricted by this declaration — focus household efficiency on leak fixes and appliance upgrades to reduce indoor demand.
- Mountain UV at 9,000 ft is intense — mulch deeply with bark or rock around any plants you intend to keep alive with hauled water.
- Monitor willowbrookmetro.org and the district email list weekly for modifications, exemptions, or early lift announcements.
Will Restrictions Get Worse?
The May 1, 2026 resolution states the emergency stays in place through the end of 2026 or until the Willow Brook board votes to remove it. The board is expected to reassess based on summer monsoon precipitation, well-level recovery, and the 2026–27 winter snowpack forecast. Given the severity of the conditions cited — historic-low Upper Colorado Basin snowpack, declining well levels, and Colorado’s hottest and driest winter on record — a full lift before December is unlikely. Property owners should plan for the entire 2026 outdoor season under the ban.
FAQs — Silverthorne Water Restrictions 2026
Does the Willow Brook ban apply to all of Silverthorne?
When can I expect the Ruby Ranch outdoor ban to lift?
Can I keep my Ruby Ranch trees alive under the ban?
Can my HOA fine me for a brown lawn under the ban?
How is Willow Brook different from Eagle River District (Vail)?
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