Gravity vs. Rights
Lake Hatcher doesn't fill like a normal lake; it’s a managed reservoir for the residents of uptown Pagosa Springs. Its survival depends on two main factors: Geography and Law.
The Source: Water is diverted from Fourmile Creek and flows downhill via a pipeline. Gravity does the heavy lifting here, making it a cost-effective source.
The Legal Queue: Water rights are "first come, first served." PAWSD holds junior water rights (12th in line). This means we can only divert water from mid-October through April. Once the senior holders take their share in the spring, our "faucet" is turned off.