Utah’s snowpack levels reported as “below abysmal”
The Natural Resources Conservation Service, or NRCS, referred to Utah’s snowpack levels as “below abysmal” in its January 2018 Water Supply Outlook. Snowpack in southwestern Utah is eight percent of normal. Seasonal precipitation (October–December) is 14 percent of average. Predictions indicate that southern Utah will remain dry.
“This is one of the worst water years I’ve seen in my lifetime,” said Ron Thompson, general manager of the Washington County Water Conservancy District. “We can drive our entire watershed right now and kick up dust — that’s unprecedented for this time of year.”
The Water Supply Outlook reports that southern Utah’s snowpack falls well under the 1977 water year, which is one of the worst snowpack and runoff years in recent history.
“Any duplication of that debacle would be good to avoid,” reported Randy Julander, snow survey supervisor for the NRCS. “That said, the train wreck is on its way — statistically, if you are less than 75 percent of normal on Jan. 1, there is only about a 20 percent chance of getting back to average by April 1, and the condition prevailing in southern Utah isn’t even remotely close to 75 percent right now.”
Water users in Washington County will likely live off of reservoir storage in 2018, according to Julander. Sand Hollow Reservoir is currently 93 percent full, and Quail Creek Reservoir is 67 percent full.
“Imagine our situation if we didn’t have these reservoirs,” said Thompson. “When they were initially proposed, there were some who said we’d never use a drop of water from them. I’m grateful that we, as a community, knew better. These reservoirs will carry us through this dry year. We’d be in dire circumstances if we listened to the naysayers.”
Given the reservoir storage, water shortages are not expected in Washington County. However, the district encourages all water users to be efficient with their use and to turn off outdoor irrigation during the winter and water sparingly this spring.
“Every drop we save counts,” said Thompson.
About the Washington County Water Conservancy District
Washington County Water Conservancy District is a not-for-profit public agency established in 1962 to manage southern Utah’s regional water needs. The district oversees the development, stabilization, management, acquisition, and conservation of water resources in Washington County in an ongoing effort to provide a safe, reliable water supply for current and future generations. More information is available at wcwcd.org.
