Iron County Water Intelligence Brief

October 5, 2026 | Cedar-Parowan Closed Basin

Situation Summary

Coal Creek is running at 10 cfs and rising — a modest late-season signal in a basin where groundwater, not streamflow, is the operational supply reality for Parowan Valley irrigators. With the 2026 irrigation season winding down, the near-term question for alfalfa and cattle operations is well performance and aquifer recovery heading into the recharge window, not surface delivery volumes. 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 their normal seasonal condition for early October: snowpack has not yet established at any elevation.

| Station | SWE | Snow Depth |

|---|---|---|

| Brian Head (10,040 ft) | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Castle Valley | 0.2" | 0.0" |

| Little Grassy | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Long Flat | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Midway Valley | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Yankee Reservoir | 0.0" | N/A |

The 0.0" readings across nearly all stations reflect normal early-October conditions — median SWE for this date is also 0.0" at these elevations, so no below-normal signal should be read into the current snapshot. The 2026 seasonal context is meltout timing: snowpack across the Markagunt Plateau melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, compressing the recharge window that feeds Cedar Valley and Parowan Valley aquifers. Brian Head SNOTEL — the primary high-elevation indicator for Markagunt Plateau recharge — will be the station to watch as the accumulation season opens.

Streamflow Conditions

Coal Creek near Cedar City (USGS 10242000): 10 cfs, rising as of October 4.

This reading should be understood as a recharge-season indicator, not an irrigation supply figure. Coal Creek drains approximately 80.9 square miles of the Markagunt Plateau and is Iron County's only active USGS streamflow gauge. Its flows signal late-season moisture conditions in the upper watershed and contribute modestly to Cedar Valley aquifer recharge — they do not represent a meaningful direct supply volume for agricultural or municipal users.

Parowan Valley gauge gap: No active USGS gauge exists on Parowan Creek or Center Creek. Parowan Valley surface water conditions cannot be directly observed from federal monitoring data. Irrigators and water managers in the Parowan and Paragonah communities should contact Utah Division of Water Rights for local stream data and rely on well monitoring for operational supply status.

Seasonal Guidance

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

Data Sources: SNOTEL data through October 4, 2026; USGS streamflow data through October 4, 2026

Data Current As Of: October 5, 2026

Important Disclaimers: This brief provides automated analysis for informational purposes only. Specific numerical claims have not been independently verified. Consult official sources including Utah Division of Water Rights (State Engineer — issues and administers groundwater management plans for Cedar Valley and Parowan Valley aquifers; 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.