Iron County Water Intelligence Brief

July 6, 2026 | Cedar-Parowan Closed Basin

Situation Summary

Iron County's water story this season begins and ends with its aquifers: Cedar Valley and Parowan Valley are internally draining closed basins — snowmelt that falls on the Markagunt Plateau stays here or is consumed here, with no outlet to any larger river system. The 2026 snowpack melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date across all Markagunt Plateau stations, compressing the recharge window that feeds both valley aquifers. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All six SNOTEL stations serving the Cedar-Parowan Closed Basin are reporting at fully melted-out conditions as of July 5, 2026 — which is normal for this point in the calendar. The critical 2026 signal is not today's SWE reading, but timing: these stations melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, driven by an anomalous March heat wave across the Mountain West.

Station readings (July 5, 2026):

Brian Head — the primary high-elevation recharge indicator for both Cedar Valley and Parowan Valley aquifers — is fully melted out. The Castle Valley trace reading (0.1" SWE) is operationally negligible. The consequence of early meltout is a shortened recharge season: spring runoff and infiltration that would normally extend into May or June concluded weeks earlier, meaning the 2026 recharge pulse to both valley aquifers was abbreviated relative to a typical year. This does not resolve or offset the structural overdraft condition in either valley — it simply means one recharge season delivered less than its historical average input.

Streamflow Conditions

Coal Creek Near Cedar City (USGS 10242000): 8 cfs, stable (July 6, 2026)

Coal Creek is Iron County's only active USGS streamflow gauge, draining approximately 80.9 square miles of the Markagunt Plateau. At 8 cfs, the creek is carrying stable late-season baseflow — a useful signal, but important to frame correctly: Coal Creek is a recharge indicator, not a primary irrigation supply. Iron County agriculture is groundwater-dependent, not surface-water-dependent, and Coal Creek's annual average flow is small by Mountain West standards.

The stable 8 cfs reading reflects typical post-meltout baseflow conditions. With snowpack melting out 4–6 weeks early in 2026, the peak spring pulse that contributes to aquifer recharge through streambed infiltration and lateral groundwater exchange has already passed. Current flows represent residual baseflow rather than active snowmelt contribution.

Parowan Valley monitoring gap: No active USGS gauge exists on Parowan Creek or Center Creek, the primary surface water features of Parowan Valley (HUC 16030001). This is a known monitoring gap. Parowan Valley surface water and groundwater conditions must be inferred from Utah Division of Water Rights reporting, local well monitoring, and Groundwater Management Plan data — not from any real-time streamflow gauge. Parowan Valley irrigators should contact the Utah Division of Water Rights directly for current local stream and aquifer data.

Seasonal Guidance

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Data Sources: SNOTEL data through July 5, 2026; USGS streamflow data through July 6, 2026

Data Current As Of: Utah Division of Water Rights

Important Disclaimers: This brief provides automated analysis for informational purposes only. Specific numerical claims have not been independently verified. Consult official sources including your local water district, Utah Division of Water Rights (State Engineer — issues and administers groundwater management plans for Cedar Valley and Parowan Valley aquifers; the governing documents for long-term aquifer protection; waterrights.utah.gov), Iron County Water Conservancy District, Cedar City Water Department, and local irrigation companies serving Parowan Valley agricultural users for regulatory decisions and water rights administration.