Iron County Water Intelligence Brief

September 21, 2026 | Cedar-Parowan Closed Basin

Situation Summary

Coal Creek is running at 6 cfs near Cedar City — a stable but modest late-season reading that reflects the closed basin's transition into its lowest-recharge period of the year, with no meaningful snowpack remaining on the Markagunt Plateau to sustain further surface inflow. For Parowan Valley irrigators, late-season groundwater demand continues against a backdrop of chronic aquifer overdraft that no single season's precipitation can reverse. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All six SNOTEL stations monitoring Iron County's Markagunt Plateau and surrounding highlands are reporting at or near zero snow water equivalent (SWE) as of September 20, 2026 — consistent with normal late-September conditions, when the historical median SWE for each station is also 0.0".

Station readings (September 20, 2026):

These readings reflect normal seasonal meltout — not below-normal conditions for this calendar date. The operationally significant snowpack story for 2026 is timing: stations across the region melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, compressing the spring recharge pulse into a shorter window earlier in the season.

Brian Head SNOTEL, as the highest-elevation station (10,040 ft) and the primary recharge indicator for both Cedar Valley and Parowan Valley aquifers, shows no remaining snowpack. The Markagunt Plateau is fully snow-free. No further snowmelt-driven aquifer recharge should be expected until the 2026–2027 snowpack season begins — typically November or later at elevation.

Streamflow Conditions

Coal Creek Near Cedar City (USGS 10242000): 6 cfs, stable — September 21, 2026

Coal Creek is the only active USGS streamflow gauge in Iron County. Its current reading of 6 cfs reflects typical late-season baseflow conditions as Markagunt Plateau snowmelt contributions have ceased. This flow should be read as a recharge signal, not an irrigation supply volume — Iron County agriculture is fundamentally groundwater-dependent, and Coal Creek's primary value is as an indicator of aquifer recharge timing and intensity over the course of the water year.

At 6 cfs, Coal Creek is providing minimal late-season recharge input to the Cedar Valley aquifer system. With snowpack fully absent and no major precipitation events indicated, flows are unlikely to increase materially before fall precipitation or early-season snowfall at elevation.

Critical monitoring gap — Parowan Valley: No active USGS gauge exists on Parowan Creek or Center Creek in the Parowan Valley (HUC 16030001). Surface water conditions in the primary agricultural valley cannot be assessed from gauge data. Parowan Valley irrigators and managers should rely on Utah Division of Water Rights local stream data and groundwater management plan reporting for current conditions. This monitoring gap is a standing limitation of publicly available data for Iron County's agricultural core.

Iron County's two valleys — Cedar Valley and Parowan Valley — are internally draining closed basins with no surface water outlet to any external river system. Coal Creek terminates in a dry lake playa; Parowan Creek terminates at the Little Salt Lake and adjacent playa. Water entering these basins stays here or is consumed here.

Seasonal Guidance

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

Data Sources: SNOTEL data through September 20, 2026; USGS streamflow data through September 21, 2026

Data Current As Of: September 21, 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.