{"id":2480,"date":"2026-06-15T18:44:41","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T18:44:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rockyridgetown.com\/?p=2480"},"modified":"2026-06-15T18:44:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T18:44:43","slug":"utah-statewide-drought-emergency-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rockyridgetown.com\/?p=2480","title":{"rendered":"Utah Statewide Drought Emergency 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Utah Water & Wastewater News<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Rural Water Association of Utah<\/strong>

Utah Declares Statewide Drought Emergency<\/strong>Following the warmest winter on record and the lowest snowpack since 1930, a statewide state of emergency has been declared due to extreme drought conditions. Snowpack peaked about three weeks early, and all 29 counties are in severe drought, with 22 in extreme drought as defined by the U.S. Drought Monitor. Reservoir storage is approximately\u00a070%<\/strong>.

The order activates the state\u00a0Emergency Operations Plan<\/strong>\u00a0and directs the state\u00a0Drought Response Committee<\/strong>\u00a0to review drought-related hardships and recommend actions. Additional information on current conditions and resources is available at\u00a0Drought.Utah.gov<\/a>.

Utah Drought Deepens, Water Systems Strain<\/strong>
Utah reports widespread drought with\u00a0100%<\/strong>\u00a0of the state affected and\u00a059%<\/strong>\u00a0in extreme drought. Reservoir storage averages\u00a071%<\/strong>\u00a0(normal for the season, but down from\u00a082%<\/strong>\u00a0last year) as many rivers peaked before April 1 with muted runoff, according to NRCS. Colorado River conditions remain challenging: April\u2013July Lake Powell inflow is projected at\u00a0800,000 acre-feet<\/strong>\u00a0(lowest since initial filling), and the south arm of Great Salt Lake peaked early at\u00a04,192.6 feet<\/strong>, a\u00a01.6-foot<\/strong>\u00a0rise since fall versus typical\u00a03\u20135 feet<\/em>\u00a0in wet years.

Operational impacts are emerging across systems. Low reservoir levels are prompting some state parks to close boat launch ramps, and water-right cutoffs and delivery reductions are occurring\u00a0earlier than normal<\/em>, with temporary snowmelt-driven flows expected to diminish in coming weeks. To address heat- and low-water stress, the Division of Wildlife Resources is adjusting fish stocking and catch limits, including shifting toward more cool- and warmwater species; statewide conservation efforts continue through programs such as Agricultural Water Optimization and SlowTheFlow.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Utah Water & Wastewater News Rural Water Association of Utah Utah Declares Statewide Drought EmergencyFollowing the warmest winter on record and the lowest snowpack since 1930, a statewide state of emergency has been declared due to extreme drought conditions. Snowpack peaked about three weeks early, and all 29 counties are in severe drought, with 22 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