Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- Salt Lake City is looking to return to its drought plan amid record-low snowpack concerns.
- Stage 2 of the water shortage plan urges voluntary water reduction by residents, restrictions for government facilities.
- City leaders emphasize conservation as warmer temperatures threaten early snowmelt and runoff.
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's capital city could return to its drought contingency plan for the first time since 2022, as leaders prepare for the possibility of a record-low snowpack collection this year.
The Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities has been meeting with Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall over a plan to enact Stage 2 of the city's five-stage water shortage plan, Laura Briefer, the department's director, told KSL on Tuesday.
"It's in the motion right now," she said, after providing members of the Salt Lake City Council an update on the city's water situation.
The second stage of the plan calls on residents within the department's service district to take voluntary steps to reduce water, while municipal and other government facilities are tasked with cutting back on watering. A spokesperson for Mendenhall's office told KSL that a decision and more details will likely be released this month.
Salt Lake City also supplies water in Millcreek and Cottonwood Heights, as well as parts of other areas along the eastern edge of Salt Lake County.
It comes as Utah's snowpack, which accounts for about 95% of the water supply statewide, remains close to the record-low point for early March, as the snowpack nears its normal peak. The Provo-Utah Lake-Jordan snowpack basin, which includes Salt Lake City's key water sources, has collected only half of its median seasonal average, with only four weeks left in its typical season.
As it stands, it could set a record-low peak this year.
That translates to bleak water projections across the state, including many of the key bodies of water that flow through Salt Lake City or that it manages. The latest Colorado Basin River Forecast Center projections list flows at 60% or lower across Big Cottonwood, City, Dell, Lambs, Mill, Parleys and Red Butte creeks. Little Cottonwood Creek is in the best position, at 76% of the average expected.
While Utah could still benefit from late-season storms, federal forecasters warned this week that an incoming spring warmup could induce some "early onset" of snowmelt in high-elevation parts of the West in the coming days. That would likely detract from the already poor runoff projections, Briefer said.
"We lose a lot of the volume of that water before it's even needed, so we're kind of concerned about an earlier runoff this year because of the unique conditions," she said, noting that it's been a growing issue in most of the recent years.
What helps is that the reservoirs the city relies on are in a strong position, but this year could leave a dent if next year's snowpack is also weak.
Although experts say it's still too early for outdoor watering, warmer temperatures in March may prompt earlier outdoor watering, especially as people take advantage of an earlier planting season. Returning to the drought contingency plan could help improve outdoor-watering messaging this year, as the city plans to ask residents to conserve water.
City leaders appeared to favor taking measures as soon as possible. They also know that the situation will likely worsen in the summer, which is typically the region's driest season.
"I'm not going to use the word 'may.' I think we must conserve across the board, not just for the residents, but across the nonresidents — the bigger users," added Salt Lake City Councilman Dan Dugan, referring to government facilities, churches and schools on the city system.
Other cities that rely heavily on snowpack are also having these discussions, Briefer said. Gov. Spencer Cox said last week that the state is considering declarations or drought measures, which could be issued earlier than usual if conditions dry out.
State water managers have also expressed worries over this year's snowpack. Salt Lake City and state water managers urge people to explore water conservation measures, such as cutting back on outdoor watering.
Other tips can be found on the state's water conservation program's website.
