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ST. GEORGE — Southern Utah’s snowpack levels are “below abysmal” for this time of year, water officials said.
“This is one of the worst water years I’ve seen in my lifetime,” said Ron Thompson, general manager of the Washington County Water Conservancy District, in an emailed statement. “We can drive our entire watershed right now and kick up dust – that’s unprecedented for this time of year.”
Snowpack in southern Utah is currently 8 percent of normal and experts predict the area will remain dry. Seasonal precipitation from October to December was 14 percent of average.
“Right now, our chances of getting through, even if we had miraculous spring snow conditions, it would be impossible for us to even get back to average right now,” said Corey Cram, associate general manager for the Washington County Water Conservancy District.
According to a water report released this month by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the current conditions fall below the 1977 water year, which was one of the worst snowpack years in recent history, according to the Washington County Water Conservancy District.
KSL's Southern Utah News Section
Looking for more news from the southern part of the state? Visit our southern Utah section for more stories, events and features.“Any duplication of that debacle would be good to avoid,” reported Randy Julander, snow survey supervisor for the NRCS. “That said, the train wreck is on its way — statistically if you are less than 75 percent of normal on Jan. 1, there is only about a 20 percent chance of getting back to average by April 1, and the condition prevailing in southern Utah isn’t even remotely close to 75 percent right now.”
Officials don’t believe there will be water shortages but said residents in Washington County will likely rely on nearby reservoirs for water this year. Sand Hollow Reservoir is currently 93 percent full and Quail Creek Reservoir is at 67 percent capacity.
County officials, however, are still encouraging residents to be efficient using water and to conserve as much as possible.
