ST. GEORGE — The impacts of two back-to-back wet winters across Utah has state and local water managers excited as a recent water supply outlook report paints an optimistic portrait for the coming year.
According to the March 1 Water Supply Report from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the state received 157% of its typical amount of snow water equivalent (SWE) for the month of February, with the statewide SWE percent of normal ending the month at 117%.
Entering the traditionally wettest months of March, April and May, Utah’s water situation is robust, according to a press release from the Utah Division of Water Resources. Soil moisture remains favorable, setting the stage for optimal conditions as the spring runoff approaches. Saturated soils will allow more water to make its way to reservoirs and streams rather than being soaked up by dry earth as the snow melts.
“Our statewide snowpack has been consistently above normal since the beginning of February, which has really put Utah in a good position as we head into spring,” Candice Hasenyager, director of the Division of Water Resources, said in a press release.
Southwest Utah’s own snowpack was recorded to be over 100% of average with it remaining around 103% as of Friday evening.
“It’s a very positive change from what we’ve seen at the earlier part of this year,” Zach Renstrom, general manager of the Washington County Water Conservancy District, told St. George News. “It’s showing we’re about 100%, which is great for us. We’re always ecstatic to be average in this location.”
In mid-January it is was looking it the region was in for “a very dry year” as the SWE average was only at 53% at the time. This changed as subsequent storms swept through much of the state over the next month. According the NRSC’s report, precipitation in southwest Utah was 186% above normal for February.
Reservoirs
The above average snowpack from the last two winters has left Washington County in a good spot related to reservoir storage with its primary reservoirs near or even slightly above capacity.
As of Friday according to the water district’s website, the Sand Hollow is 98%, Gunlock is at 103% and Kolob is at 83%.
Quail Creek is at 74% and is generally not raised to full capacity for safety reasons, Karry Rathje a spokeswoman for the water district, recently told St. George News.
The Upper and Lower Enterprise reservoirs — which are not managed by the county water district — are at 77% and 71% respectively.
Having the reservoir at or near their storage capacity is good place to be in as it will help the county through the summer when drought conditions may creep back into the region. Water that isn’t captured by the reservoirs also helps recharge the area’s sandstone aquifer do to how much water the county used three years ago when the drought was particularly severe, Renstrom said.
“So we’re good this year,” he said. “But we still want these storms to come in and still want to keep our soil as saturated as possible to get the recharge to the aquifer.”
If there is a downside to the excess water coming off the melting snowpack, it’s not being able to store more of it.
“That’s one of the reasons we aggressively build additional reservoirs.” Renstrom said. “We’re not storing any water. Anything that’s melting off the mountains is just going through out community and being able to store that excess water is crucial to out future. That’s why we are in the process right no of building (the) Toquer reservoir and reservoirs we have on schedule.”
In addition to the Toquer reservoirs, plans are in the works to build reservoirs in parts of Santa Clara and Ivins.
“We can store that water not just for the summer, but we can store that water – sometimes for several years – until we need it,” Renstrom said.
A reminder on Gunlock Falls
As more snowpack melts, the level of reservoirs like Gunlock will also continue to rise. As a result the falls that are formed at that reservoir’s spillway will produce larger flows compared to the minor ones one currently there now. As the sight of the waters falls draw people out to take a look, Renstrom echoed the same warning state officials issued earlier this month for people to be cautious around the area.
“I think it’s great that people are out there and visiting them, but it always does make me nervous that someone’s going to get hurt,” he said.
Common warnings involve slipping on wet rocks and falling or cliff diving into pools formed by the falls when the overflow is great. Such incidents have not ended well for some people in recent years, though, as hazardous hidden just beneath the water of both harmed and killed jumpers.
“Please be careful. We don’t anybody hurt there,” Renstrom said. “We want people to show respect and unfortunately it seems like things happen out there (because) people do things that are crazy and we just want people to treat those falls with respect and not get hurt.”
Photo Gallery
Water levels at Washington County’s main reservoirs are near or over 100% of their storage capacity thanks to two back-to-back winters with above average snowpack. A report from the Natural Resources Conservation Service paints a positive picture for the state’s water supply over all, Sand Hollow State Park, Utah, March 13, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Water levels at Washington County’s main reservoirs are near or over 100% of their storage capacity thanks to two back-to-back winters with above average snowpack. A report from the Natural Resources Conservation Service paints a positive picture for the state’s water supply over all, Quail State Park, Utah, March 13, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Water levels at Washington County’s main reservoirs are near or over 100% of their storage capacity thanks to two back-to-back winters with above average snowpack. A report from the Natural Resources Conservation Service paints a positive picture for the state’s water supply over all, Quail State Park, Utah, March 13, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Water levels at Washington County’s main reservoirs are near or over 100% of their storage capacity thanks to two back-to-back winters with above average snowpack. A report from the Natural Resources Conservation Service paints a positive picture for the state’s water supply over all, Gunlock State Park, Utah, March 13, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Water levels at Washington County’s main reservoirs are near or over 100% of their storage capacity thanks to two back-to-back winters with above average snowpack. A report from the Natural Resources Conservation Service paints a positive picture for the state’s water supply over all, Gunlock State Park, Utah, March 13, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Water levels at Washington County’s main reservoirs are near or over 100% of their storage capacity thanks to two back-to-back winters with above average snowpack. A report from the Natural Resources Conservation Service paints a positive picture for the state’s water supply over all, Gunlock State Park, Utah, March 13, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Water levels at Washington County’s main reservoirs are near or over 100% of their storage capacity thanks to two back-to-back winters with above average snowpack. A report from the Natural Resources Conservation Service paints a positive picture for the state’s water supply over all, Sand Hollow State Park, Utah, March 13, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Water levels at Washington County’s main reservoirs are near or over 100% of their storage capacity thanks to two back-to-back winters with above average snowpack. A report from the Natural Resources Conservation Service paints a positive picture for the state’s water supply over all, Sand Hollow State Park, Utah, March 13, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Water levels at Washington County’s main reservoirs are near or over 100% of their storage capacity thanks to two back-to-back winters with above average snowpack. A report from the Natural Resources Conservation Service paints a positive picture for the state’s water supply over all, Sand Hollow State Park, Utah, March 13, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
A sign at the entry to the path to the Gunlock falls warning visitors about the potential risk of recreating in the area, Gunlock State Park, Utah, March 13, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Water levels at Washington County’s main reservoirs are near or over 100% of their storage capacity thanks to two back-to-back winters with above average snowpack. A report from the Natural Resources Conservation Service paints a positive picture for the state’s water supply over all, Gunlock State Park, Utah, March 13, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
The Gunlock falls as seen from the overlook at the head of the trail that leads to the falls proper. While small for the time being, they are expected to grow as more snowpack melts, Gunlock State Park, Utah, March 13, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Water levels at Washington County’s main reservoirs are near or over 100% of their storage capacity thanks to two back-to-back winters with above average snowpack. A report from the Natural Resources Conservation Service paints a positive picture for the state’s water supply over all, Sand Hollow State Park, Utah, March 13, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Water levels at Washington County’s main reservoirs are near or over 100% of their storage capacity thanks to two back-to-back winters with above average snowpack. A report from the Natural Resources Conservation Service paints a positive picture for the state’s water supply over all, Sand Hollow State Park, Utah, March 13, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Water levels at Washington County’s main reservoirs are near or over 100% of their storage capacity thanks to two back-to-back winters with above average snowpack. A report from the Natural Resources Conservation Service paints a positive picture for the state’s water supply over all, Sand Hollow State Park, Utah, March 13, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Water levels at Washington County’s main reservoirs are near or over 100% of their storage capacity thanks to two back-to-back winters with above average snowpack. A report from the Natural Resources Conservation Service paints a positive picture for the state’s water supply over all, Sand Hollow State Park, Utah, March 13, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Water levels at Washington County’s main reservoirs are near or over 100% of their storage capacity thanks to two back-to-back winters with above average snowpack. A report from the Natural Resources Conservation Service paints a positive picture for the state’s water supply over all, Sand Hollow State Park, Utah, March 13, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Water levels at Washington County’s main reservoirs are near or over 100% of their storage capacity thanks to two back-to-back winters with above average snowpack. A report from the Natural Resources Conservation Service paints a positive picture for the state’s water supply over all, Quail State Park, Utah, March 13, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Water levels at Washington County’s main reservoirs are near or over 100% of their storage capacity thanks to two back-to-back winters with above average snowpack. A report from the Natural Resources Conservation Service paints a positive picture for the state’s water supply over all, Quail State Park, Utah, March 13, 2024 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
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