Utah is facing the possibility of a drought-related emergency declaration as concerns over drought conditions and below-normal snowpack levels persist. The state’s spring runoff period, crucial for water replenishment, has started on a cautious note. Governor Spencer Cox indicated during a recent news conference that while much of Utah experienced a typical year in terms of weather, the situation in southern and southwestern parts of the state is more severe.
Cox highlighted that areas in southern Utah, particularly southwestern Utah, are experiencing drought conditions that are significantly below average. An emergency declaration is currently under consideration for several counties in the southwest, which are facing these heightened drought challenges. Such a declaration, once issued, would be temporary, lasting only 30 days, unless extended by the Utah Legislature, which is set to reconvene in May.
Despite a late-season storm providing some relief, the impact may be insufficient for southern Utah, where drought conditions are more pronounced. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor report reveals that Washington County remains in a state of extreme drought, extending into parts of Iron County. Areas not classified as extreme drought are still experiencing severe drought conditions, affecting over a third of the state. Other regions in western and southeastern Utah are also significantly dry.
Snowpack, a vital source of Utah’s water supply, is another concern. The state relies on snowpack for approximately 95% of its water, but several basins are closing the meteorological winter with record-low collections. Although late-season storms have helped, the snowpack levels in Utah’s two southwesternmost basins peaked at only 48% and 53% of their median averages. Four nearby basins recorded levels ranging from 65% to 79% of average.
The combination of dry soil moisture and inadequate snowpack is problematic, as it reduces the efficiency of snowmelt runoff. Instead of feeding streams, creeks, and rivers that supply Utah’s lakes and reservoirs, more water is absorbed into the ground. This scenario is considered one of the worst-case conditions by experts like Jordan Clayton, hydrologist and supervisor of the Utah Snow Survey.
The outlook for streamflow in the region is bleak, particularly for major reservoirs such as Lake Powell. Currently, Lake Powell is only at 33% capacity, and projections from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation suggest a 71% average runoff this spring. This would likely result in the reservoir rising by just 12 feet, reaching about 3,570 feet in elevation—17 feet shy of last year’s high point. The situation reflects the worst snowpack conditions in approximately 40 years for southern Utah.