Whether your arms are tired from shoveling, you’re excited to keep skiing or disappointed spring weather isn’t here, it’s been a winter to remember. 

With the state’s drought brought into sharp focus in recent years, the past several months have brought much needed precipitation across the state. That includes a statewide snow water equivalent measured at 200% of normal as of April 1, compared to 75% at that time last year according to the Utah Water Supply Outlook Report for April released by the National Resources Conservation Service. 

“Our statewide SWE has broken all previous snowpack records,” shared Snow Survey Supervisor Jordan Clayton in a press release. “This has truly been a memorable snow season.”

All of Utah’s major watersheds were above 130% of normal precipitation as of April 4, with four at record-high levels (Provo-Utah Lake-Jordan, Tooele Valley-Vernon Creek, Beaver and Lower Sevier). 

The historic snowpack is a welcome sign given the last several years of equally historic drought in the state, but while reservoir storage is at 54% of capacity and small to medium-sized reservoirs will likely fill, the effect will be less dramatic for the critically low Lake Powell or the Great Salt Lake, reports the NRCS.

“Utahns will need to continue to conserve water to help make progress replenishing our storage systems,” Clayton said.

Snowmelt runoff is likely to break its own previous records this spring, with greater than 200% of median flow forecasted for 61 out of 82 stream gage locations, at greater than 400% predicted for 15 locations. 

With growing flood concerns, NRCS notes streamflow forecasts from April to July snowmelt runoff volume are based on observed SWE and precipitation at Utah’s SNOTEL (snow telemetry) sites and are volumetric. This information does not provide guidance on peak discharge magnitude at stream gage locations.

It’s the deepest snowpack ever measured in Utah, according to report, with 41 of the 138 SNOTEL sites reporting an all-time record high amount of SWE and 16 more sites were second highest.

Sherrie Ohrn, a trustee on the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District board representing Bluffdale, Herriman and Riverton, told the Riverton City Council despite the higher water levels, the drought is not over. With so many years spent in the deficit, they need another year similar to this record-breaking winter season. 

“No matter how tired you are of shoveling, you got to hope it’ll happen again next year,” she said. 

Jordan Valley Water will still encourage programs and education such as Slow the Flow, Utah Water Savers, Flip your Strip and toilet replacements—where those with toilets from before 1994 could be eligible for a toilet replacement rebate. 

Ohrn noted there’s funding available to help promote people changing their landscaping. She also encouraged member cities to continue its messaging and even share more of its conservation story, highlighting success stories to endorse further water preservation. 

“We’re about halfway there,” Ohrn said. “It’s going to be super important that we continue to have conservation efforts and conservation messaging.”  λ