U.S. Forest Service warns that some campgrounds may limited or no water this summer due to drought

As camping season kicks off, U.S. Forest Service officials are warning that some campgrounds may not have water in their wells or be low on water as Colorado faces widespread drought conditions.

White River National Forest Recreation Program Manager Paula Peterson said that anyone who is planning to camp this summer is being encouraged to conserve water after the state experienced a historically low snowpack.

“The wells that serve our campgrounds may be starting with less water due to the light snowpack, so we’re asking all campers to conserve water,” Peterson said. “This includes filling up any holding tanks in RVs at home rather than at the campground, so that our water supplies last the whole season.”

The Lowry and Prospector campgrounds as well as the Windy Point Group Site at the Dillon Reservoir currently do not have water because the well that serves them is dry this spring, the release states. So, campers should bring their own water.

All visitors should also check the White River National Forest website before leaving for any updates related to drought conditions, such as fire restrictions, which can be found at FS.USDA.gov/r02/whiteriver/alerts.

Visitors are asked to abide by fire restrictions. In areas where fires are allowed, visitors should be careful with fire and ensure that their campfire is cold to the touch before leaving camp, according to the news release. Fires should never be left unattended.