Salt Lake County Water Intelligence Brief

July 6, 2026 | Jordan River Basin | Free-Tier Brief

Situation Summary

Salt Lake County enters mid-summer 2026 under a fully snow-free watershed: all five SNOTEL stations across the Wasatch Range above the county have reported 0.0" snow water equivalent since early season meltout, which occurred approximately 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date due to an anomalous March heat wave. The three primary municipal suppliers — Salt Lake City Public Utilities, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, and Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake & Sandy — are operating without additional snowmelt inflow, placing full reliance on stored and imported supply for the remainder of the season. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All five NRCS SNOTEL stations monitoring the Wasatch Range above Salt Lake County report complete meltout as of July 5, 2026:

| Station | SWE | Snow Depth |

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

| Atwater | 0.0" | 1.0" |

| Brighton | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Dry Fork | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Mill-D North | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Snowbird | 0.0" | 0.0" |

Interpretation note: The 0.0" SWE readings across all stations reflect normal seasonal conditions for early July — the median SWE for this date is also 0.0" at all stations, so current readings do not indicate below-normal snowpack *today*. The operationally significant signal for 2026 is meltout timing: the snowpack melted out approximately 4–6 weeks earlier than the historical median meltout date, meaning the spring runoff pulse that recharges canyon reservoirs and sustains early-summer streamflow concluded well ahead of schedule.

Station record caveat — required weighting guidance: The Atwater station (SNOTEL ID 1308:UT:SNTL) has been reporting only since August 2022, giving it fewer than four full water years of record. Water managers should weight Brighton (reporting since 1986), Mill-D North (reporting since 1988), and Snowbird (reporting since 1989) as the primary long-term trend indicators for historical comparison. Atwater data is useful for current-season monitoring but should not be used as a standalone basis for historical analysis.

The practical consequence of early meltout is that no additional snowmelt-driven inflow is available to canyon storage facilities or the Jordan River system for the remainder of the summer and fall season.

Streamflow Conditions

Two active USGS gauges are currently transmitting data for Salt Lake County. Users should note that Big Cottonwood Creek (gauges 10168499 and 10169000), Mill Creek (10170000), and Parleys Creek (10171500) are discontinued gauges not currently transmitting data. Canyon-specific flow data for those drainages should be requested directly from Salt Lake City Public Utilities.

Jordan River @ 1700 South @ Salt Lake City (07/06): 145 cfs — stable trend. This is the primary mainstem indicator for the county's principal surface drainage. Stable flow at 145 cfs reflects a managed system drawing on reservoir releases and return flows rather than active snowmelt contribution.

Little Cottonwood Creek @ Jordan River near SLC (07/06): 12 cfs — falling trend. The falling trend at this gauge is consistent with the absence of snowmelt input following early-season meltout. Little Cottonwood Creek flows at this point reflect residual baseflow and any upstream operational releases; the declining trajectory is expected to continue absent precipitation events.

The combination of stable Jordan River mainstem flows and a falling Little Cottonwood Creek signal illustrates the county's current supply dynamic: managed storage releases are sustaining mainstem flows while tributary contributions diminish. No active gauge data is available for Big Cottonwood, Mill Creek, or Parleys Creek drainages through automated systems.

Seasonal Guidance

*Primary: Municipal Supply | Secondary: Agricultural Users*

Municipal and Utility Stakeholders:

Agricultural Users (Secondary — Bluffdale, Herriman, Riverton, Magna and surrounding areas):

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

Data Sources: SNOTEL data through July 5, 2026; USGS streamflow data through July 6, 2026.

Data Current As Of: July 6, 2026. Administrative status references Utah Division of Water Rights records.

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, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Upper Colorado Region (for Deer Creek and Jordanelle reservoir operations), Salt Lake City Public Utilities (canyon watershed storage and ungauged tributary flow data), and Utah Division of Water Rights for all regulatory decisions and water rights administration. This brief does not constitute legal, engineering, or water rights advice.