Re: Proactive Water Conservation Planning for Estes Park
Mark Igel
Dear Mayor Hall and Members of the Town Board,
I am writing to encourage the Town of Estes Park to take a proactive approach to water conservation planning as we head into what appears to be a challenging water year across Colorado.
Communities throughout the state are already implementing or considering drought response measures due to historically low snowpack and early runoff. Many municipalities are adopting strategies such as reduced outdoor watering schedules, public education campaigns, and incentives for water-efficient landscaping. Estes Park is uniquely positioned as a headwaters community, and I believe we have an opportunity to lead rather than react.
While I understand that Estes Park already has certain water use guidelines in place, I would encourage the Board to consider whether additional or more visible measures could benefit our community, including:
- Establishing clear, seasonal watering guidelines or voluntary reduction targets
- Expanding public education efforts around conservation and xeriscaping
- Exploring incentives for water-efficient landscaping and irrigation systems
- Communicating early and transparently with residents and businesses about potential drought conditions and expectations
Taking early, measured steps may help avoid the need for more restrictive emergency actions later in the season, while also reinforcing a culture of stewardship within our community.
Estes Park’s identity is closely tied to its natural environment, and protecting our water resources is essential to both our quality of life and our economic sustainability. I appreciate your consideration of this issue and your continued leadership on behalf of our town.
Thank you for your time and service.
Sincerely,
Becky Robbins
The Town of Estes Park is committed to providing accessible information and services. If you need any accommodations to view or interact with this email, please reply with your request or contact me at the phone number listed above.
Becky Robbins
Thank you. I enjoyed the evening and look forward to catching up with you.
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From:
Mark Igel <mi...@estes.org>
Date: Friday, April 24, 2026 at 3:12 PM
To: Becky Robbins <beckyro...@outlook.com>
Subject: Re: Proactive Water Conservation Planning for Estes Park
Becky,
Thanks for weighing in on this, I agree that the town has an opportunity to set an example, and a fortunate position upstream.
I've asked the same questions you posed in this email of town staff and I have seen a healthy respect for water use in the community. I think we can do better sharing that effort with residents and visitors, in a proactive movement to be good stewards of the resources we have.
I also enjoyed seeing you for a few moments in person yesterday, and will catch up with you soon on the other issues you raised.
Sincerely,
Mark Igel, Trustee
Town of Estes Park | PO Box 1200 | Estes Park, Colorado 80517
www.estes.org
Direct voice mail: 970-577-3713
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