Tooele County declares drought emergency after officials detail 'extreme drought' and wildfire risk

Tooele County on Wednesday declared an emergency drought, citing persistently low precipitation, depleted irrigation reservoirs and elevated wildfire risk.

Bucky Whitehouse, who identified himself as representing Tooele County Emergency Services, told the council that roughly 80% of the county is in "extreme drought," with a 30-day precipitation profile at about 25% of normal and temperatures running about 5° above average. He said Settlement Canyon reservoir was at 61% (about 19% below the median for this time of year) and Grantsville reservoir was at 67% (about 17% below median). Whitehouse also reported record-low flow at the South Willow Creek gauge and reminded the council that the Cherry Fire had burned roughly 34,000 acres and was about 69% contained.

"At the present time ... Tooele County, 80% of Tooele County is in what we call an extreme drought," Whitehouse said, explaining that the declaration would allow county officials and residents to apply for federal assistance and to implement local drought-response measures.

Why it matters: the declaration gives county officials access to state and federal aid programs and enables businesses and property owners to pursue Small Business Administration grants and loans to help cover drought-related losses. Whitehouse said the dry soils also reduce the effectiveness of monsoonal rains for groundwater recharge, worsening long-term water availability.

Council members asked about livestock and rangeland impacts. Whitehouse said officials are conducting an assessment of livestock losses and that a meeting for affected livestock owners is scheduled for July 9 in Goshen to discuss rangeland recovery and potential relocation options. He added that county staff had discussed available range space in southern Utah with the governor’s office and other entities as a temporary option for displaced ranchers.

The council voted to adopt Resolution 2026-20 declaring a drought emergency in Tooele County. The vote followed the presentation and a question-and-answer exchange about the effects on ranchers and on emergency response.

What’s next: staff said the declaration will remain in effect until drought conditions materially improve and that officials will continue coordinating with state and federal partners on assistance and recovery for livestock owners and rangeland management.