Water Intelligence Brief · Archive

Sevier County, UT

June 29, 2026

Sevier County Water Intelligence Brief

June 29, 2026 | Sevier River Basin

Situation Summary

The Sevier River Basin is operating in a post-peak-runoff mode following an anomalous early-melt season, with snowpack at Farnsworth Lake effectively exhausted and streamflows reflecting the transition toward summer base conditions. Meltout occurred 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, compressing the runoff window and reducing recharge opportunities for basin reservoirs and alluvial aquifers. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

The single SNOTEL station reporting for the Sevier River Basin tells a clear story for late June 2026:

Farnsworth Lake (as of June 28): Snow water equivalent (SWE) of 0.3 inches, snow depth of 1.0 inch.

At this point in the calendar, residual SWE at or near zero is within normal seasonal range — the median SWE for this date at this station is also effectively zero, meaning the station is not reporting an anomalous deficit relative to what is expected on June 28. The meaningful signal for 2026 is not today's reading but the timing of meltout: Farnsworth Lake and the broader basin melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, driven by the anomalous March heat wave that accelerated snowpack loss across the Mountain West. That early departure is what defines the 2026 water year for Sevier County — the runoff pulse arrived and largely passed before traditional peak irrigation demand, leaving the basin dependent on stored water and base streamflows through the summer months.

No additional SNOTEL stations are reporting for the Sevier River Basin in this data set. Users seeking broader snowpack context should contact the NRCS Utah Snow Survey office.

Streamflow Conditions

Five USGS gauges provide coverage across the Sevier River Basin, showing a mixed but generally constrained picture:

  • Manti Creek below Dugway Creek, near Manti, UT: 9 cfs (stable) as of June 29. This represents the primary in-county streamflow indicator for the upper basin and reflects modest but steady base flow conditions on Manti Creek.
  • Sevier River at Hatch, UT: 52 cfs (stable) as of June 29. Upper Sevier conditions at Hatch are holding steady, suggesting consistent contributions from headwater areas in the southern portion of the basin.
  • Sevier River near Kingston, UT: 4 cfs (rising) as of June 29. This is a notably low reading on the mid-Sevier, though the rising trend is a potentially positive near-term signal worth monitoring. The low volume at this gauge warrants close attention from irrigators in the Kingston corridor.
  • Sevier River near Lynndyl, UT: 344 cfs (falling) as of June 29. The highest volumetric reading in the basin, though the falling trend indicates that the most significant portion of the seasonal pulse has passed through the lower system. This gauge reflects the integrated contribution of the full basin above Lynndyl, including reservoir operations.
  • Sevier River near Sigurd, UT: No recent flow data available as of June 29. The absence of current data at Sigurd represents a meaningful monitoring gap for irrigators in the central Sevier Valley. Users in this reach should contact the Utah Division of Water Rights or their local water district for current conditions.

    • The overall basin picture shows divergence between the lower Sevier (substantial but declining flow near Lynndyl) and the mid-basin near Kingston (very low and only beginning to rise). The stable readings at Hatch and Manti Creek suggest that upper-basin contributions are consistent but modest for this point in the season.

    Seasonal Guidance

  • Contact the Sevier River Water Users Association to verify current delivery schedules and confirm your allocation status for the remainder of the irrigation season.
  • Check current storage conditions for Piute Reservoir, Otter Creek Reservoir, and other Sevier Basin facilities directly with the Utah Division of Water Resources (water.utah.gov).
  • Contact the Utah Division of Water Rights (waterrights.utah.gov) to review your water right priority and confirm any administrative actions affecting Sevier Valley alluvial aquifer use this season.
  • Reach out to the NRCS Utah State Office or local field office to ask about the current Water Supply Outlook and any remaining seasonal forecast products for the Sevier River Basin.

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

    Data Sources: SNOTEL data through June 28, 2026; USGS streamflow data through June 29, 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.

    Data & Disclaimers

    Sources: NRCS SNOTEL network · USGS National Water Information System · National Weather Service

    This brief provides automated analysis for informational purposes only. Consult official sources including your local water district and state Division of Water Rights for regulatory decisions. This document does not constitute legal, regulatory, or engineering advice.

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