Weeks of snowy, cool weather has officials feeling a little more optimistic about the water-supply situation as the state heads into summer. As of May 15, snowpack in the Upper Colorado River basin, which includes Summit County's Blue River, was 89 percent of average; year-to-date precipitation in the basin totaled 92 percent of average on Saturday.

Local officials said Tuesday that a draft environmental study for a major Denver Water project is incomplete and doesn’t accurately reflect potential impacts in Summit County. At issue is Denver Water’s plan to expand its Moffat Collection system in Grand County.

A plan by Denver Water to increase water diversions from the West Slope to the Front Range will get an early December public hearing in Summit County. As described in a draft environmental study, the Moffat Collection System project in Grand County would also have impacts on flows on the Blue River.

The increasing demand for a limited amount of water in the state has prompted crackdowns on illegal use by everyone from second-home owners in resort areas to ranchers on the Eastern Plains.