Washington County Water Conservancy District manager Zach Renstrom told the Washington City Council on Oct. 8 that unusually dry soil moisture means the region will likely see less runoff from snowpack than usual, even if snowfall is near normal, and he reviewed reservoir levels and local water infrastructure projects.

“If we get 100% just an average percent snowpack, we will not get an average runoff this year,” Renstrom told the council, citing NASA soil‑moisture data and a long historical record for the Virgin River basin.

Renstrom framed the update to the council around the district’s water year, which begins Oct. 1. He noted that historical rainfall records for downtown St. George extend back to 1890 and that without a small late rain event the previous year would have been the driest on record. He said Sand Hollow and Quail reservoirs remain important reserves that provide 60–70% of the area’s drinking water and that, coming into the new water year, storage is in better shape than in 2022 but that dry soils will reduce spring runoff.

Renstrom said Gunlock Reservoir, which supplies irrigation, started low and declined rapidly, and he expressed concern both about low volumes and about ash and sediment entering reservoirs after recent fires. He described regional projects intended to increase storage and reliability: Chief Toker Reservoir is under construction and expected to be completed next fall, a series of additional dam projects (including Kolob and Cove reservoirs) and a regional reuse pipeline are in design or planning, and the district is pursuing reuse and Bureau of Reclamation environmental reviews for some work.

He also highlighted conservation gains: average per‑connection residential water use has dropped about 10% in recent years, allowing the district to serve more connections with relatively modest increases in production. Renstrom urged residents and irrigators to reduce outdoor watering now, noting irrigation clocks often remain set for summer months.

Council members asked for follow‑up details and coordination. Councilman Coates and others discussed availability of district grant funds and noted the district’s excess‑water surcharge funds could be returned to the city for local conservation or secondary‑water projects. Renstrom said staff could work with the city to identify grant opportunities and to coordinate pipeline routing and road impacts where lines would cross city streets.

Renstrom described reuse, spring sources and fill strategies for new reservoirs; he said Chief Toker will use multiple sources including pipeline connections to Ash Creek, spring spurs toward Pine Valley Mountain, and planned reuse flows. He said some future reservoirs might support recreation but emphasized their priority is water storage. No formal council action was taken on the water update; the presentation served as an informational briefing and to guide staff and council planning.