Sevier County Water Intelligence Brief

July 20, 2026 | Sevier River Basin

Situation Summary

The Sevier River Basin enters the peak of the 2026 irrigation season with snowpack fully melted out — having departed 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date — leaving streamflows as the primary remaining surface water supply signal for the season. Flows vary considerably across the basin, from strong volumes in the upper reaches near Hatch to sharply reduced conditions at Kingston, reflecting the complex storage and diversion dynamics that characterize the mid-Sevier corridor. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

Farnsworth Lake SNOTEL (reported July 19, 2026):

Snow water equivalent: 0.2" | Snow depth: 0.0"

The Farnsworth Lake station is reporting trace SWE with no measurable snow depth — a condition consistent with effective seasonal meltout. Because no percent-of-median figure is shown for this date, the median SWE at this point in the calendar is also 0.0", meaning the station is at a normal seasonal condition for late July rather than an anomalous deficit. The meaningful snowpack story for 2026 is one of timing: the basin melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, driven by the anomalous March heat wave that accelerated snowmelt across the Mountain West. That early meltout shifted peak runoff well ahead of schedule and has reduced the late-season buffer that irrigators typically draw upon through August. No additional snowmelt contribution to streamflow should be anticipated at this stage of the season.

Streamflow Conditions

Five USGS gauges provide coverage across the Sevier River Basin as of July 20, 2026:

Sevier River at Hatch, UT: 56 cfs — rising

The uppermost mainstem gauge shows the strongest flow in the basin and a rising trend, indicating active inflow in the upper Sevier corridor above Hatch.

Manti Creek Below Dugway Creek, near Manti, UT: 5 cfs — stable

A modest but steady flow on this tributary system. Manti Creek is a primary in-county streamflow indicator for the northern portion of the basin. Stable conditions suggest consistent but limited supply from this drainage.

Sevier River near Kingston, UT: 9 cfs — rising

A notably reduced reading relative to the Hatch gauge, reflecting diversions and losses between those two points in the upper-to-mid Sevier corridor. The rising trend is a modest positive signal at this location.

Sevier River near Lynndyl, UT: 244 cfs — stable

The highest absolute flow reading in the dataset, recorded at the lower basin gauge near Lynndyl. This elevated reading likely reflects regulated releases and system storage dynamics further downstream in the basin. Stable conditions here indicate consistent supply at the lower end of the system for the moment.

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

This mid-basin gauge is currently offline or not reporting. Sigurd sits between Kingston and Lynndyl in the basin, and the data gap represents a meaningful blind spot for mid-Sevier irrigators. Users in the Sigurd area should contact their local water district for current conditions.

Seasonal Guidance

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Data Sources: SNOTEL data through July 19, 2026; USGS streamflow data through July 20, 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.