Sevier County Water Intelligence Brief

June 15, 2026 | Free Tier

Situation Summary

The Sevier River Basin enters mid-June 2026 in a post-peak runoff phase, with snowpack fully melted out and streamflows declining across most monitored gauges. The basin experienced an anomalous March heat wave that drove snowmelt 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, compressing the spring runoff window and limiting total seasonal recharge. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

The single active SNOTEL station monitoring the Sevier River Basin reports the following as of June 14, 2026:

Farnsworth Lake: Snow water equivalent (SWE) 0.3", snow depth 0.0"

The 0.0" snow depth reading indicates the station has reached effective meltout — no measurable snowpack remains on the ground. The residual 0.3" SWE figure reflects instrument conditions at meltout rather than active snowpack. Critically, no percent-of-median figure is reported for this date, which indicates the historical median SWE for this point in the calendar is also at or near 0.0" — meaning the station is at a normal seasonal condition for mid-June, not below normal in a comparative sense.

The significant water supply story for 2026 is not today's snowpack reading but rather the timing of meltout: Farnsworth Lake and other Mountain West stations melted out approximately 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, driven by the anomalous March heat wave. This early meltout concentrated spring runoff into a shorter window, reducing the extended irrigation-season benefit that a later, more gradual snowmelt typically provides to Sevier River system users.

Streamflow Conditions

Five USGS gauges monitor flow across the Sevier River Basin. Current readings as of June 15, 2026:

Manti Creek Below Dugway Creek, Near Manti, UT: 11 cfs — falling

Sevier River at Hatch, UT: 52 cfs — stable

Sevier River Near Kingston, UT: 6 cfs — falling

Sevier River Near Lynndyl, UT: 123 cfs — falling

Sevier River Near Sigurd, UT: No recent flow data available

The overall streamflow picture shows a basin moving through the descending limb of its spring runoff hydrograph. Three of the four reporting gauges are on a falling trend, consistent with the post-meltout timing described above. The Sevier River at Hatch (52 cfs, stable) represents the uppermost mainstem reading and provides a useful upstream supply signal, while Kingston (6 cfs, falling) reflects significant mid-basin consumption and diversion upstream of that point. The Lynndyl gauge (123 cfs, falling) captures aggregated basin flow at the lower end of the system and currently shows the highest volume, though the falling trend warrants close monitoring as irrigation demand peaks in coming weeks.

The absence of recent data from the Sigurd gauge is a notable monitoring gap for mid-basin users. Agricultural users between Kingston and Sigurd should contact their local water manager or the Utah Division of Water Rights for current local conditions.

Seasonal Guidance

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

Data Sources: SNOTEL data through June 14, 2026; USGS streamflow data through June 15, 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, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and Utah Division of Water Rights for regulatory decisions and water rights administration.