Sanpete County Water Intelligence Brief

August 17, 2026 | Sevier River Basin | Free-Tier Edition

Situation Summary

Snowpack across the Sevier River Basin monitoring network has fully melted out, consistent with normal seasonal conditions for mid-August, though 2026 stations melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date — compressing the spring runoff window and reducing total recharge to streams and local storage. Streamflow at Sevier River gauges shows a mixed picture, with flows generally at modest late-season levels and a falling trend at the primary basin indicators. Reservoir storage data, 7-day forecast details, and depletion analysis are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All six SNOTEL stations serving the Sevier River Basin are reporting zero snow water equivalent (SWE) and zero snow depth as of August 16, 2026 — the expected condition for this point in the calendar year. No percent-of-median figures are shown for any station, which confirms that the current median SWE for this date is also 0.0"; stations are at normal seasonal condition today, not below normal.

The operationally significant story for 2026 is meltout timing, not current snowpack depth. Stations including Beaver Dams, GBRC HQ, GBRC Meadows, Mammoth-Cottonwood, and Mt. Baldy all melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of their historical median meltout dates, driven by an anomalous March heat wave across the Mountain West. Thistle Flat is reporting zero depth with SWE listed as N/A. That accelerated meltout means the spring pulse that normally sustains streamflows and replenishes storage into May or June arrived and receded in March and April — leaving the basin to rely on whatever was captured in storage and on summer monsoon moisture from this point forward.

For turkey producers, ranchers, and hay growers in Sanpete County, the snowpack outlook for the remainder of the 2026 irrigation season is zero — there is no remaining snowpack to melt. Water availability through the end of the season depends entirely on storage carryover, current streamflows, and any monsoon-season precipitation.

Streamflow Conditions

Manti Creek below Dugway Creek, near Manti (in-county gauge): Reporting 4 cfs as of August 16, with a stable trend. This is the only active USGS streamflow gauge within Sanpete County. Manti Creek serves as the primary in-county streamflow indicator; no active gauge exists on the San Pitch River mainstem, which is a known data gap for local water managers. Contact Sanpete Water Conservancy District for additional local monitoring context beyond what this gauge captures.

Sevier River at Hatch: Reporting 44 cfs as of August 17, with a falling trend. This upper-basin gauge reflects conditions entering the system from the south.

Sevier River near Kingston: Reporting 10 cfs as of August 17, with a rising trend. The rising signal at Kingston is notable relative to the falling trend at Hatch and may reflect local tributary contributions or operational factors between the two gauges.

Sevier River near Lynndyl: Reporting 75 cfs as of August 17, with a falling trend. Lynndyl is a downstream gauge and reflects cumulative basin inflows and storage releases reaching the lower system.

Sevier River near Sigurd: No recent flow data available. Sigurd sits between the Kingston and Lynndyl gauges and is a relevant reference point for Sanpete County users given its proximity — the absence of current data is a monitoring gap to note when assessing mid-basin conditions.

Overall, Sevier River Basin streamflows reflect the late-season pattern expected following an early-melt year. The falling trend at Hatch and Lynndyl, combined with zero snowpack remaining, indicates that natural inflows will continue to decline through the remainder of August and into September absent significant monsoon precipitation events. The 4 cfs stable reading on Manti Creek represents a modest but steady local flow for in-county users.

Seasonal Guidance

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Data Sources: SNOTEL data through August 16, 2026; USGS streamflow data through August 17, 2026

Data Current As Of: Utah Division of Water Rights

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 Resources, Utah Division of Water Rights, and the Utah State Engineer's Office for regulatory decisions and water rights administration.