Wild Horse Reservoir - Colorado

08/08/2026

The proposed Project would be integrated into our existing system as new storage for water before it would go to Spinney Mountain Reservoir. This means no new diversions, just smarter storage and reliability. Learn more about how this project would work: https://wildhorsereservoir.org/about/how-it-would-work/.

[Image description: Map of the proposed Wild Horse Reservoir Project with inlet pipeline coming from Otero pipeline to new reservoir and outlet pipeline going from new reservoir to Spinney Mountain Reservoir.]

08/04/2026

This is what drought looks like. The first two photos show the South Platte River just upstream of Spinney Mountain Reservoir in Park County, and what’s missing is striking: water. The third picture is water being released from Spinney.

Aurora Water crews who work along this stretch say flows are the lowest they have ever seen. At this time of year, we would typically expect the South Platte flowing into Spinney to be around 100-200 cubic feet per second (cfs). The other day, it was around 2 cfs. But travel downstream of Spinney Mountain Reservoir to the popular Dream Stream, and you’ll still see water flowing. Why the difference? That water is coming out of Spinney Mountain Reservoir from water stored in previous years. Those releases also maintain flows in the South Platte below the reservoir. Without Spinney Mountain Reservoir and those releases, the Dream Stream would likely look much more like the river immediately above the reservoir right now—with little to no water flowing through it.

Colorado’s rivers have always had variable flows, and drought makes that hydrology even more unpredictable and extreme. That is precisely why water storage is so important. Storing water in Spinney Mountain Reservoir created reserves that can be used during dry periods when far less water is moving through our rivers. The contrast between the river above and below Spinney is a powerful illustration of how critical water storage is. We cannot control Colorado’s hydrology or when drought will dramatically reduce river flows. Storage gives us the ability to better manage through that variability.

Aurora has spent decades building a diverse and resilient water system for conditions like these. But what we are seeing this year underscores why conservation, reuse, and additional water storage, like the proposed Wild Horse Reservoir are so important.

[Image descriptions: Photos of South Platte River above Spinney Mountain Reservoir with extremely low streamflow and photo of South Platte River below Spinney Mountain Reservoir with higher streamflow shows how critical water storage is to the river.]

08/01/2026

Come on down to Hartsel Days Annual Festival. We will be here all day today and tomorrow.

07/30/2026

Both water conservation and reuse are critical to making every drop of water count. As the state of Colorado faces a severe lack of water, Aurora Water is committed to doing our part to preserve and conserve our precious water resources. We are all in this together.

Learn more about our enhanced water conservation efforts during this drought.

Aurora Water is a national leader in water conservation and reuse initiatives, which is even more critical as Colorado endures drought.

07/29/2026

The cars, tanks, and other debris at the property on Black Kettle Road have been cleaned up. Big shout out to High Country Excavation and PS Services for getting everything moved and the property cleared. A gate has also been installed to help prevent folks from dumping other unwanted vehicles at the site.

[Image description: Property on Black Kettle Road with all the debris removed and the parcel graded.]

07/28/2026

Colorado's drought isn't just about how little precipitation we've received. It's also about what happens after rain or snow falls.

The map below shows soil moisture conditions across the United States. The darker brown areas indicate significant soil moisture deficits, and much of Colorado is experiencing some of the driest conditions in the nation. When soils become extremely dry, they act like a sponge. Instead of rain and snowmelt quickly making their way into creeks, rivers, and reservoirs, much of that water is absorbed by the landscape. Trees, grasses, and other vegetation also use more water during prolonged hot, dry conditions.

The impact can be dramatic. Along portions of the South Platte River upstream of Spinney Mountain Reservoir, streamflows have dropped substantially as water moves downstream, even in areas without major diversions. Under current drought conditions, much of that water is being absorbed by dry soils and vegetation before it ever reaches the reservoir.

This year's drought has been driven by both below-average precipitation and persistently high temperatures. Those hotter conditions increase evaporation and plant water use, reducing the amount of runoff that ultimately reaches Colorado's reservoirs.

That's why every storm matters. If late-summer rains help replenish soil moisture, more of this winter's snowmelt has the potential to become runoff rather than being absorbed by the landscape.

Aurora Water continues to closely monitor conditions and manage water supplies for both current needs and the long term as we conserve water and ensure that every drop counts.

(Image is from USDA indicating shortages in topsoil moisture across the United States during the week ending July 19, 2026.)

07/25/2026

We are looking forward to Days Annual Festival next weekend, August 1-2. Stop by the tent to see the latest maps and learn more about where we are in the planning and pre-permitting phase of the proposed Project.

[Image description: Wild Horse Reservoir Project tent at Hartsel Days 2025.]

07/22/2026

Water conservation is in Aurora Water’s DNA. During this unprecedented drought, Aurora Water’s nation-leading water conservation efforts are ensuring that every drop counts. Learn more about how we are a leader in water conservation: https://wildhorsereservoir.org/about/complementing-conservation-reuse/.

[Image description: Every drop counts. Share your water saving commitments. Sticky notes from Aurora residents that list ways they are conserving water during this drought.]

07/17/2026

Come stop by and say hello at our tent tomorrow at the Park County Fair!

07/15/2026

The proposed Project is currently in the planning and pre-permitting phase as Aurora Water prepares information for several environmental reviews and permitting processes. Learn more about the project at the link below.

Aurora Water is proposing to build a new reservoir—the Wild Horse Reservoir project—west of Spinney Mountain Reservoir near Hartsel, Colorado, in Park County. The new reservoir would provide the critical water storage that Aurora Water needs to ensure reliable water supply for community needs an...