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WEST HAVEN, Weber County — Even though warmer weather may make it easier to get work done around the farm, Dave Favero says he can't help but think about what it could mean for the months ahead.
"It's hard to totally enjoy a good day because of the fact that you're worried about the water for your existence," he said.
According to Ivan Ray, general manager at Davis and Weber Counties Canal Company, Favero's worries aren't unwarranted. While snow pack levels sit at around 80 percent, that outlook could drop quickly if Utah continues to have dry, warm weather similar to what it saw in January.
"With the high pressure, the warmer temperatures, we continue to lose snow pack," Ray said. "Every day it stays like this, we're dropping significantly."
Crops like pumpkins and squash take priority at the Favero farm. Others, like hay and alfalfa, may have to suffer if water supplies run low in July and August.
"Every change that happens seems to affect us in one way or another," Favero said. "You manage around it as best you can; cut back on the long-season crops, or just short them water at the end."
Ray says good precipitation last year will help, but more snow will be needed to keep up with normal levels for February and March.
"We had about 24,000 acre feet more storage carryover than we did the previous year," Ray said. "But we're not going to be able to receive enough runoff water at the rate we're going to be able to supplant or maintain that."
