Here's how much Utah's snowpack gained from pair of atmospheric rivers

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's water situation drastically improved last year with a record snowpack, and a pair of atmospheric rivers that came through the state in the past week now has this winter looking about as promising.

Several mountain locations have received at least 4 feet of snow already this month with plenty of water included. Utah's snowpack, the average of 114 mountain sites across the state, has gained 2.7 inches of snow water equivalent since Feb. 1, according to Natural Resources Conservation Service numbers updated Friday morning.

It could climb more over the next two days, though not as much new snow is expected. KSL meteorologist Kristen Van Dyke said valleys could see up to a few inches of snow from scattered showers between Friday and Saturday, while the mountains could get a little more than that.

The additional snow over the past week boosted the statewide average to 11.3 inches of snow water equivalent, 114% of the median average for this time of the year. Close to a quarter of the total collected since the water year began on Oct. 1 has come since this month began, according to the Conservation Service.

This year's total is also up to 71% of the median average snowpack over the past three decades with 54 days left in the normal snow collection season.

Jordan Clayton, a hydrologist for the agency, said the storm systems provided an "outstanding boost," which puts Utah in a better position for an above-normal snow year. While there's some probability that Utah could have one of its best snow years on record or one of its worst, he said the "most likely" outcome scenario rose from slightly below normal to somewhere near 117%.

"Of course, that's just a projection today and there's a huge amount of uncertainty there," he told KSL.com, explaining that the number is somewhere in the middle of all outcomes.

How every basin has benefited

What's more, every snowpack basin made significant gains from the prolific storms, as the basins gathered anywhere from 1.6 to 4.7 inches of water.

Some of the highest totals came in southern and central Utah, boosting basin averages to above normal for the first time all water year, in many cases. In fact, all of Utah's snowpack basins are now above average. The basins in southern and central Utah had lagged before the storms.

Even the valleys ended up with lots of water. The National Weather Service reports Salt Lake City has received 2.33 inches of precipitation this month, through Thursday. That's nearly an inch above its normal for the entire month and just outside of its top-10 wettest Februaries in the past 150 years.

Controlled releases begin

Utah reservoirs are also on the rise before the snow begins to melt. The state's primary reservoirs, combined, are already up to 82% capacity, gaining 9 percentage points since the water year began, per Utah Division of Water Resources data.

With all the additional water expected to arrive from snowmelt this spring, water managers are already looking at ways to control flooding. Central Utah Water Conservancy District officials began releases out of Utah Lake on Thursday, as the lake reached maximum capacity for the first time since 2011.

Chase McDonald, a regional engineer for the Utah Division of Water Rights, said about 300 million gallons of water will be released daily and about 30,000 acre-feet of water is expected to wind up in the Great Salt Lake's southern arm, which remains about 5 feet below its minimum healthy level.

Great Salt Lake commissioner Brian Steed said Wednesday he's asked other water managers to also consider controlled releases at reservoirs projected to reach full capacity this year. This can help alleviate flood risks later this year, while also directing much-needed water to the Great Salt Lake.

"Anytime we can get more water in the Great Salt Lake, it's a good sign," McDonald said.

Salt Lake City Public Utilities director Laura Briefer told KSL.com on Friday that she expects more controlled releases will happen within the basin soon. She said these types of releases typically begin after managers can project how much water their reservoirs will receive during the snowmelt process and how it fits into available storage.

Even though reservoirs are in a better place and the basins are on pace for another above-average year, there's enough time left in the season to make a decision on how much water to release at many reservoirs.

The Great Salt Lake's low levels are an example of the hydrologic drought that remains after several drought cycles in Utah, Briefer said. The same can be said about Lake Powell in southern Utah.

It's why she said water conservation efforts are still necessary this year even if both are slated to get additional water again this spring.

"We are still pushing heavily a water conservation message," she said. "We need people to conserve more. … Conservation is really, really critical at this time."

Contributing: Alex Cabrero

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