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State water officials warn low snowpack, dry soils threaten runoff despite healthy reservoirs
Summary
Candice Hosseager, director of the Division of Water Resources, told the Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee that Utah is starting the 2025 water year with snowpack and soil moisture well below normal in parts of the state, particularly southern Utah, even though many reservoirs are holding healthy levels.
Candice Hosseager, director of the Division of Water Resources, told the Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee that Utah is starting the 2025 water year with snowpack and soil moisture well below normal in parts of the state, particularly southern Utah, even though many reservoirs are holding healthy levels.
Hosseager said about 95% of Utah’s water supply originates in mountain snowpack and that many SNOTEL sites in southern Utah are reporting only 24%–36% of normal snow water equivalent for this point in the season. She also said statewide soil moisture is below average — a condition driven by warm fall temperatures and a warm December — and noted that dry soils will soak up more meltwater and reduce spring runoff.
“Snow wate…
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