Utah faces severe water shortages as reservoir levels plummet

State officials provided an update on Utah's reservoir levels and water supply forecasts during a recent government meeting, revealing concerning trends as the state prepares for the upcoming water season. As of March 1, statewide reservoir capacity stood at 53%, a significant 14% decrease compared to the previous year. The data, which will be updated in early April, indicates that several key basins, including Price, Upper Sevier, and Bear, have experienced notable declines in water levels.

While some of Utah's larger reservoirs, such as Strawberry, are performing well, others like Spirit Bridge, Yuba, and Joe's Valley are critically low. The meeting highlighted that soil moisture levels have improved by 25% from last year, but certain areas, particularly in southeastern Utah, are showing signs of drying out.

Forecasts for the April through July runoff period are pessimistic, with expected runoff levels ranging from 50% to 70% of normal across large portions of the state. Some areas, particularly the middle and lower Sevier, are projected to see runoff below 50% of normal, raising concerns about water availability as the summer approaches.

The state's drought conditions remain severe, with 97% of Utah classified at D2 drought level or worse, and approximately one-third of the state facing extreme D3 drought conditions. Officials emphasized the need for careful management of water resources as they anticipate challenges ahead, particularly in light of the depleted reservoir storage and poor runoff predictions.