Sevier County Water Intelligence Brief

August 24, 2026 | Sevier River Basin

Situation Summary

The Sevier River Basin is operating in a late-summer low-flow regime, with snowpack fully melted out at monitoring stations 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date following the anomalous March 2026 heat wave. Streamflow patterns reflect that early meltout, with mainstem flows declining or absent at several key gauges as the basin moves deeper into the irrigation season without meaningful snowmelt recharge. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

Farnsworth Lake SNOTEL (reading through August 23, 2026):

Snow water equivalent (SWE): 0.2" | Snow depth: 0.0"

The Farnsworth Lake station is reporting a trace SWE value of 0.2" against a measured snow depth of 0.0", a combination consistent with instrument residual rather than meaningful snowpack presence. No percent-of-median figure is reported for this date, which reflects that the historical median SWE for late August at this station is also effectively 0.0" — this is the normal seasonal condition for this point in the calendar. The accurate concern for 2026 is not current snowpack deficit, but meltout timing: the basin's snowpack melted out 4–6 weeks earlier than the historical median meltout date, meaning the spring pulse that charges streamflows and reservoir storage arrived and departed significantly ahead of schedule, compressing the recharge window available to irrigators and storage facilities.

Streamflow Conditions

Manti Creek Below Dugway Creek, near Manti, UT: 3 cfs (stable) — A low but stable reading for this tributary. Late-August flows at this level indicate the creek is running on baseflow with no active snowmelt contribution.

Sevier River at Hatch, UT: 44 cfs (stable) — The upper mainstem is holding steady at 44 cfs. This is the highest single-point reading among the mainstem gauges and reflects upper basin contributions near the headwaters.

Sevier River near Kingston, UT: 6 cfs (falling) — A notably low and declining reading at the mid-basin Kingston gauge. The falling trend is a concern for water users between Hatch and Kingston, suggesting that diversions, evapotranspiration, and channel losses are absorbing available flow.

Sevier River near Lynndyl, UT: 323 cfs (rising) — This reading requires interpretive caution. The Lynndyl gauge sits well downstream in the lower basin and can reflect return flows, reservoir releases, or operational management decisions rather than purely natural runoff. The rising trend at 323 cfs stands in contrast to the low and falling conditions at upstream gauges and likely reflects managed releases or return flow contributions in the lower system. Water managers should verify the source of this flow with the Utah Division of Water Resources before drawing supply conclusions.

Sevier River near Sigurd, UT: No recent flow data available — The absence of current data at Sigurd creates a significant gap in mid-basin visibility. Sigurd sits between the Kingston and Lynndyl gauges and is an important monitoring point for Sevier County irrigators. Users dependent on flows in this reach should contact the Utah Division of Water Resources or their local water district for current conditions.

The overall streamflow picture shows low and declining conditions in the upper and mid-basin reaches, consistent with the early meltout and late-season baseflow regime. The data gap at Sigurd and the anomalous Lynndyl reading both merit direct follow-up with basin operators.

Seasonal Guidance

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Data Sources: SNOTEL data through August 23, 2026; USGS streamflow data through August 24, 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.