Iron County Water Intelligence Brief

August 31, 2026 | Cedar-Parowan Closed Basin

Situation Summary

Coal Creek is running at 6 cfs and falling — a late-summer baseline condition that reflects the closed-basin reality of Iron County: surface flows are minimal, recharge season is months away, and Parowan Valley alfalfa and hay operations are drawing on groundwater wells to carry through the remainder of the irrigation season. For Parowan Valley irrigators, the operative supply variable is not streamflow but aquifer condition — and both Cedar Valley and Parowan Valley aquifers remain in structural overdraft independent of this season's precipitation. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All six SNOTEL stations in the Cedar-Parowan Closed Basin are reporting at end-of-season baseline, which is normal for late August:

No percent-of-median figures are available for these stations at this date, which is expected — the historical median SWE for late August is also 0.0" across these elevations, so current readings reflect normal seasonal melt-out rather than a below-normal anomaly. The relevant 2026 snowpack story is one of timing: across the Markagunt Plateau, snowpack melted out approximately 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, driven by an anomalous March heat wave. That early meltout compressed the spring recharge window for both the Cedar Valley and Parowan Valley aquifers. Brian Head SNOTEL, as the highest-elevation station in the network at 10,040 feet, is the primary recharge signal for both valleys — its winter accumulation drives the snowmelt that represents Iron County's primary natural aquifer recharge source. The next recharge signal to watch is winter 2026–27 accumulation beginning at Brian Head, not current late-summer readings.

Streamflow Conditions

Coal Creek Near Cedar City (USGS 10242000): 6 cfs, falling — August 31, 2026

Coal Creek is the only active USGS streamflow gauge in Iron County, and it is appropriately understood as a recharge-season indicator rather than an irrigation supply source. At 6 cfs and falling, the creek is at a typical late-summer low — consistent with the end of monsoon-season variability and the drawdown period before fall. Coal Creek's 80.9-square-mile drainage area and roughly 24,200 acre-foot annual average yield make it a small system by Mountain West standards; it cannot meaningfully supplement groundwater pumping for Parowan Valley agriculture.

Critical monitoring gap: No active USGS gauge exists on Parowan Creek or Center Creek in Parowan Valley (HUC 16030001). Parowan Valley surface water conditions cannot be directly observed through national monitoring networks. Parowan Valley irrigators should contact the Utah Division of Water Rights for local stream data and rely on well monitoring records to assess aquifer conditions. This gap reinforces that groundwater management plan reporting — not streamflow data — is the primary operational information source for Parowan Valley agriculture.

Iron County is a closed basin with no surface outlet: Coal Creek terminates in a dry playa, and Parowan Creek terminates at the Little Salt Lake. Water that falls on these mountains stays here or is consumed here. There is no connection to the Sevier River, Virgin River, or Colorado River systems.

Seasonal Guidance

Subscribe for the full brief including reservoir storage, weather forecasts, depletion analysis, and detailed operational recommendations.

Data Sources: SNOTEL data through August 30, 2026; USGS streamflow data through August 31, 2026

Data Current As Of: August 31, 2026

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 (local water authority), Cedar City Water Department (primary municipal water provider for Cedar City area), and local irrigation companies serving Parowan Valley agricultural users for regulatory decisions and water rights administration.