Iron County Water Intelligence Brief

October 12, 2026 | Cedar-Parowan Closed Basin

Situation Summary

Coal Creek is running at 87 cfs and rising as of this morning — an elevated late-season pulse that signals recent precipitation or residual drainage from the Markagunt Plateau, though this surface flow is a recharge indicator, not a supply volume, for Iron County's fundamentally groundwater-dependent agricultural system. For Parowan Valley irrigators, the operative water story this week remains what it has been all season: aquifer performance under the Parowan Valley Groundwater Management Plan, not canal deliveries or streamflow scheduling. Reservoir storage data and detailed operational guidance are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All six SNOTEL stations in the Cedar-Parowan Closed Basin are reporting at expected seasonal conditions for mid-October: Brian Head (10,040 ft) shows 0.0" SWE with 1.0" snow depth, indicating a trace early accumulation without measurable water content. Castle Valley reports 0.3" SWE — the only station showing any measurable water equivalent across the network. Little Grassy, Long Flat, Midway Valley, and Yankee Reservoir all show 0.0" SWE and 0.0" depth, consistent with normal bare-ground conditions at this point in the calendar.

The 2026 snowpack story for Iron County is one of timing: the Markagunt Plateau snowpack melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, driven by an anomalous March heat wave across the Mountain West. That early meltout is now background context — the active recharge season has ended, and the basin is transitioning into the accumulation phase of the new water year. Brian Head SNOTEL remains the primary indicator to watch as winter snowpack builds; its readings are the leading signal for recharge-season conditions in both Cedar Valley and Parowan Valley aquifers.

Streamflow Conditions

Coal Creek Near Cedar City (USGS 10242000): 87 cfs, rising, as of October 12. This is a notable late-season reading for this gauge and likely reflects recent precipitation moving through the Markagunt Plateau drainage. Frame this correctly: Coal Creek drains approximately 80.9 square miles and terminates in a playa — it carries no water out of Iron County. At roughly 24,200 acre-feet average annual volume, it is small by Mountain West standards. Its primary value to Iron County water managers is as a recharge signal for Cedar Valley groundwater, not as an irrigation supply source.

Parowan Valley gauge gap: No active USGS streamflow gauge exists on Parowan Creek or Center Creek. Parowan Valley surface water conditions cannot be assessed from real-time gauge data. Irrigators and managers in the Parowan and Paragonah communities should consult Utah Division of Water Rights for local stream data and rely on groundwater management plan reporting and well monitoring for operational decisions.

Seasonal Guidance

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

Data Sources: SNOTEL data through October 11, 2026; USGS streamflow data through October 12, 2026

Data Current As Of: October 12, 2026 | Utah Division of Water Rights

Important Disclaimers: This brief provides automated analysis for informational purposes only. Specific numerical claims have not been independently verified. Iron County's Cedar Valley and Parowan Valley are internally draining closed basins — no surface water connection exists to the Sevier River, Virgin River, Colorado River, or any external watershed. Aquifer overdraft in both valleys is a chronic structural condition; good precipitation years do not resolve long-term declining water levels. Consult official sources including Utah Division of Water Rights (State Engineer — issues and administers the Cedar Valley and Parowan Valley Groundwater Management Plans; 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.