Image shows Great Salt Lake from Antelope Island

Gov. Cox Issues Drought Executive Order

Published 04-24-25

Water conservation critical as Utah’s water supply faces a drier year

Salt Lake City (April 24, 2025) – With low streamflow forecasts, increased water demand as temperatures rise and southern Utah experiencing extreme drought, Gov. Spencer J. Cox issued an Executive Order today declaring a state of emergency in 17 counties due to drought conditions. The counties include: Washington, Iron, San Juan, Kane, Juab, Emery, Grand, Beaver, Garfield, Piute, Millard, Tooele, Uintah, Carbon, Sevier, Sanpete and Wayne. This declaration reflects USDA’s disaster classifications that are informed by the U.S. Drought Monitor and NRCS’s water supply report.

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Image show the Jordan River with snow capped mountains and clouds in the background. Caption says Water Condition s Update April 2025

Utah Water Conditions Update April 2025

Published 04-18-25

SALT LAKE CITY (April 18, 2025) – Utah reached this year’s snowpack peak on March 23 at 14.3 inches, which is equal to the state’s typical annual peak. Southwestern Utah continues to experience extreme drought conditions. 

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Confronting Great Salt Lake's dust dilemmas

Confronting Great Salt Lake’s dust dilemmas

Published 03-07-25

SALT LAKE CITY (March 7, 2025) — The Utah Division of Water Resources has been hard at work on the Great Salt Lake Basin Integrated Plan for a little over a year now, and a handful of its projects are in full swing. The integrated plan — funded with $5 million by the Utah Legislature in 2022 (HB 429) and $3.1 million from the Bureau of Reclamation’s basin study program — aims to ensure a resilient water supply for Great Salt Lake and all water uses, including people and the environment, throughout the watershed. The research projects that make up the integrated plan range from groundwater well monitoring, to identifying water requirements for shorebirds and a lot more in between. Once complete, the integrated will be a robust planning tool that will inform future water management decisions within the basin.

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Utah Water Conditions Update February 2025

Published 02-18-25

SALT LAKE CITY (Feb. 18, 2025) – Utah’s snowpack has raised concerns among water managers. The state’s snowpack sits at 93% of normal, with two southern Utah basins recording less than 50% of normal snow water equivalent (SWE). Extreme drought has reappeared in southwestern Utah for the first time since March 2023.  

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Utah Water Conditions Update January 2025

Published 01-16-25

SALT LAKE CITY (Jan. 16, 2025) – Northern Utah has experienced near-normal precipitation, although much of it has been in the form of rain rather than snow, which could affect water storage for the spring melt. In southern Utah, however, snowpack remains 27-64% of normal for this time of year, continuing dry conditions in that region. 

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Utah Water Conditions Update December 2024

Published 12-17-24

SALT LAKE CITY (Dec. 17, 2024) – Current snowpack is developing in a “stair-step” pattern, with storm-driven increases followed by plateaus. Statewide, our snowpack is 81% of normal. Despite this early variability, hopes remain for a near-normal snowpack accumulation by spring. Utah’s snowpack typically peaks in April. 

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Utah Water Conditions Update November 2024

Published 11-21-24

SALT LAKE CITY (Nov. 21, 2024) – As of late November, Utah’s water conditions represent a mixed outlook. Current soil moisture levels are around 9% below normal, raising early concerns about potential impacts on next year’s spring runoff. Low soil moisture means that, without improvement, more of the snowmelt may be absorbed by dry ground before it reaches streams and reservoirs. 

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New Study Recommends Utah Maintain Use of Property Taxes and More Aggressive Tiered Rates to Fund Crucial Water Projects 

Published 11-19-24

SALT LAKE CITY (Nov. 19, 2024) – In relation to SB 34 (2023), the Utah Division of Water Resources has contracted with LRB Public Finance Advisors to complete a new study on water infrastructure funding. This study evaluates how property tax revenue is currently utilized in the supply, delivery and water infrastructure needs of Utah and neighboring states. It also explores best practices for the procurement and management of infrastructure funding and makes recommendations for promoting equity among water users. 

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A new tool launched for tracking water conservation at state facilities

Published 10-21-24

SALT LAKE CITY (Oct. 21, 2024) – The Utah Division of Water Resources and the Utah Division of Facilities Construction and Management have partnered to create the State Facility Water Tracker. This new tool displays data related to water use specifically at state facilities. Visualizing this data helps us better understand water conservation efforts at these locations. Preliminary numbers show that Utah state facilities have achieved a 20% reduction in water use since 2020.  

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Utah Water Conditions Update August 2024

Published 08-15-24

SALT LAKE CITY (August 15, 2024) – Precipitation this summer has been underwhelming for most of the state. Heat has also been a major issue over the past months. Continued water conservation efforts are crucial as demand for water increases during these hotter months. 

“The state has been drying out this summer. Monsoons have been present in some form, but have been few and far between,” Candice Hasenyager, director of the Division of Water Resources, said. “We need more of these monsoons to saturate our soils for an efficient spring runoff next year.”

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