The Utah Division of Water Resources, in collaboration with Airborne Snow Observatories, Inc. (ASO), the Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner, Weber Basin Water Conservancy District and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, is excited to launch the Wings Over Weber pilot project – an innovative effort to enhance snow monitoring and improve water supply forecasting in the Weber River Basin.
Through airborne snow observations, Wings Over Weber aims to:
- Enhance water supply accuracy within the Weber River Basin
- Address drought crisis by aiding water managers in balancing priorities of water use needs and mitigating drought impact in the area, particularly for Great Salt Lake
- Foster collaboration with partner agencies and knowledge transfer for use in runoff forecasts
You can create an account to view flight data and reports via the ASO data portal.
This initiative builds on the first ASO project in Utah: Flakes, Flights, and Forecasts, spearheaded by the Colorado River Authority of Utah in the Uintah Basin. By expanding flight coverage to the Weber River Basin, Wings Over Weber strengthens Utah’s ability to make data-driven water management decisions across multiple critical watersheds.
Why snow monitoring matters
Utah faces significant water management challenges intensified by increased water demands and a drier climate. The Weber River Basin serves as a vital water source for northern Utah, supplying municipalities, agricultural users and industries while also helping to sustain the Great Salt Lake ecosystem. The basin’s annual water availability is largely determined by snow accumulation in the mountains, which acts as a natural reservoir. In a state where approximately 95% of available water supply comes from snowpack, accurate measurement of snowpack and snow water equivalent is paramount for forecasting water supply, managing reservoirs and ensuring efficient water allocation.
Airborne Snow Observatories technology
At the core of Wings Over Weber is the integration of ASO technology, which provides a highly accurate spatiotemporal (space and time) distribution of snowpack conditions. Developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and now operated by ASO, the technology suite combines LiDAR, imaging spectrometers and other remote sensors to create detailed maps of snow depth, snow water equivalent and albedo.
Unlike traditional ground-based snow measurements, which rely on manual snow surveys and sparse automated sensors, ASO flights can provide full-basin coverage with high-resolution data. The airborne system scans a watershed, capturing snow depth and albedo distribution across the mountainous terrain to within one-meter precision. Gathered data is combined with modeled snow density to generate snow water equivalent estimates. These enable runoff forecasts that water managers can use for supply planning and drought resilience.
Project timeline
Wings Over Weber is a three-year pilot project that includes ASO flyover surveys 2-3 times per year from 2025-2027, starting with an initial snow-on survey in March 2025 and a snow-free baseline flight later in the year. This multi-year effort will establish a robust dataset and improve long-term term water supply strategies.
Collaboration for a sustainable future
This project is made possible through collaborative funding, with a federal grant from Reclamation and contributions from Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, the Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner, and the division. This collaborative effort emphasizes the importance of exploring new water management tools to address the challenges posed by increasing water demands.
Stay tuned for updates as we launch Wings Over Weber and take a step toward securing Utah’s water future!
If you have questions or need further information, please email WingsOverWeber@utah.gov