Iron County Water Intelligence Brief

September 14, 2026 | Cedar-Parowan Closed Basin

Situation Summary

Coal Creek is running at 6 cfs near Cedar City — a stable but minimal late-season signal, consistent with the end of the active recharge window for Cedar Valley. For Parowan Valley irrigators, groundwater wells remain the operative supply reality this week, as they are every week: surface water from Parowan Creek and Center Creek cannot meet agricultural demand regardless of season. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All six SNOTEL stations monitoring the Markagunt Plateau and surrounding terrain are reporting at or near zero snow water equivalent as of September 13 — which is the expected normal condition for this date in mid-September, not a below-normal signal. When stations show 0.0" SWE with no percent-of-median figure, it reflects that the median SWE for this calendar date is also 0.0". No below-normal language is warranted based on current readings.

Station readings (September 13, 2026):

The relevant seasonal context: the 2026 snowpack melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, driven by an anomalous March heat wave. That early meltout is background history at this point in September. The next actionable snowpack signal for Iron County aquifer recharge will be first accumulation on the Markagunt Plateau in late fall — watch Brian Head SNOTEL as the primary leading indicator for the 2026–27 recharge season.

Streamflow Conditions

Coal Creek near Cedar City (USGS 10242000): 6 cfs, stable, September 14.

This reading reflects the typical late-season recession on Coal Creek following the close of the snowmelt-fed pulse. At 6 cfs, flows are minimal — consistent with late summer baseflow conditions. Frame this as a recharge-season signal, not an irrigation supply volume. Coal Creek's small drainage area (~80.9 sq mi) means it has never been a primary agricultural supply source; its value to Iron County water management is as a leading indicator of Markagunt Plateau melt timing and potential aquifer recharge contribution to Cedar Valley.

Parowan Valley gauge gap: No active USGS gauge exists on Parowan Creek or Center Creek. Parowan Valley surface water conditions cannot be assessed from real-time gauge data. This is a known monitoring gap. Parowan Valley irrigators should rely on Utah Division of Water Rights reporting and local well monitoring for current supply conditions — not streamflow inference.

Seasonal Guidance

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

Data Sources: SNOTEL data through September 13, 2026; USGS streamflow data through September 14, 2026

Data Current As Of: September 14, 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. Iron County's Cedar Valley and Parowan Valley are internally draining closed basins — water does not leave through any regional river system, and aquifer overdraft in both valleys is a chronic structural condition that persists independent of seasonal precipitation or snowpack outcomes.