Water Intelligence Brief · Archive

Sevier County, UT

July 13, 2026

Sevier County, UT — Water Intelligence Brief

July 13, 2026 | Sevier River Basin

Situation Summary

The Sevier River Basin is operating in a post-snowmelt, summer-baseflow regime following the anomalous March heat wave that drove snowpack meltout 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date across the Mountain West. Available surface water is now entirely dependent on groundwater discharge, return flows, and upstream reservoir releases rather than ongoing snowmelt contribution. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

The Farnsworth Lake SNOTEL station (reading through July 12, 2026) reports 0.2 inches SWE and 0.0 inches snow depth — indicating the station has fully melted out. No snowpack remains on the ground at this elevation. Because no percent-of-median figure is reported alongside today's reading, this reflects the normal seasonal condition for mid-July at this location: the historical median SWE for this date is also 0.0 inches, and the station is not flagged as below normal for this point in the calendar.

The meaningful snowpack signal for 2026 is timing, not current depth. The critical departure this season was the early meltout — driven by the March heat wave — which moved peak runoff and snowmelt contribution to streamflow approximately 4–6 weeks earlier than the historical median meltout date. That water has already passed through the system. No further snowmelt-driven streamflow contribution is expected for the remainder of the irrigation season.

Streamflow Conditions

Five USGS gauges provide coverage across the Sevier River Basin. Conditions are mixed by location, with notable divergence between upper and lower basin readings.

  • Manti Creek Below Dugway Creek, near Manti, UT: 5 cfs, falling (July 13). This tributary reading reflects diminishing late-season baseflow typical of post-snowmelt conditions on smaller Sevier Basin streams.
  • Sevier River at Hatch, UT: 45 cfs, stable (July 13). Upper basin flows at Hatch are holding relatively steady, suggesting some residual groundwater or spring contribution maintaining baseflow at this headwaters location.
  • Sevier River near Kingston, UT: 1 cfs, falling (July 13). The marked drop between Hatch and Kingston indicates significant upstream diversions and/or channel losses between these two points — a pattern consistent with active mid-basin irrigation demand and potentially limited channel connectivity through this reach.
  • Sevier River near Lynndyl, UT: 229 cfs, falling (July 13). The substantially higher reading at Lynndyl, despite very low flows upstream at Kingston, likely reflects reservoir releases or return flows re-entering the system in the lower basin. The falling trend warrants monitoring.
  • Sevier River near Sigurd, UT: No recent flow data available (July 13). The absence of current data at the Sigurd gauge represents a monitoring gap for central Sevier County users. Conditions at this location cannot be assessed from available data at this time.

    • Seasonal Guidance

  • Contact the Utah Division of Water Resources to obtain current storage status for Sevier Bridge Reservoir (Yuba), Piute Reservoir, Otter Creek Reservoir, Johnson Valley Reservoir, and DMAD Reservoir — reservoir carry-over will determine late-season supply reliability.
  • Contact the Utah State Engineer's Office / Utah Division of Water Rights to verify your water right priority and confirm current administrative conditions on the Sevier River, particularly given the wide flow divergence between Kingston (1 cfs) and Lynndyl (229 cfs).
  • Check with the Sevier River Water Users Association for current delivery schedules, canal operational status, and any distribution coordination relevant to your irrigation company or district.
  • Monitor the USGS National Water Information System (waterdata.usgs.gov) for updated readings at the Sigurd gauge, which is currently reporting no recent data, leaving a gap in central Sevier County streamflow coverage.

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

    Data Sources: SNOTEL data through July 12, 2026; USGS streamflow data through July 13, 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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    Sevier County UT Water Report — July 13, 2026 | Wai AI