Sevier County Water Intelligence Brief

September 28, 2026 | Sevier River Basin

Situation Summary

Flows across the Sevier River Basin are stable to falling at this point in the late-season irrigation window, with gauge readings indicating limited and diminishing surface water supply as the 2026 irrigation season winds down. Irrigators drawing from the Sevier River and its tributaries should anticipate continued tightening of available surface water through the remainder of the season. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

Farnsworth Lake SNOTEL (as of September 27, 2026): Snow water equivalent (SWE) is 0.2 inches at 1.0 inch of snow depth. No percent-of-median figure is provided for this date, which reflects that the historical median SWE for late September at this station is also at or near 0.0 inches — this is a normal seasonal condition for this point in the calendar, not a below-normal reading.

As background context, the 2026 season was characterized by an anomalous March heat wave that drove snowpack meltout 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date across the Mountain West, including the Sevier River Basin. That early meltout is now a closed chapter for this season. The minimal SWE currently present at Farnsworth Lake represents early-season accumulation rather than any meaningful carry-over water supply. No snowpack-driven streamflow contribution to basin flows should be anticipated in the near term.

Streamflow Conditions

Five USGS gauges provide coverage across the Sevier River Basin, presenting a mixed but generally low late-season picture.

Manti Creek below Dugway Creek, near Manti, UT: Flowing at 2 cfs (stable) as of September 28. This is a modest in-stream reading for a tributary system at the tail end of the irrigation season, indicating limited residual flow in the upper basin tributary network.

Sevier River at Hatch, UT: Flowing at 42 cfs (stable) as of September 27. This is the uppermost mainstem reading and represents the strongest flow volume in the current dataset, reflecting conditions at the headwaters reach of the Sevier River near the southern end of the basin.

Sevier River near Kingston, UT: Flowing at 9 cfs (stable) as of September 27. The significant drop from the Hatch reading to Kingston — from 42 cfs to 9 cfs — reflects diversions and losses along the river corridor between these two points. This is a substantially reduced mainstem volume by the time water reaches the Kingston reach.

Sevier River near Lynndyl, UT: Flowing at 9 cfs (falling) as of September 27. The falling trend at Lynndyl is notable — this is the furthest downstream active gauge in the dataset and indicates that conditions at the lower end of the basin are declining. Irrigators in the lower basin should monitor this trajectory closely.

Sevier River near Sigurd, UT: No recent flow data available. The absence of current data at Sigurd creates a gap in mid-basin monitoring coverage. Users dependent on flows at or near Sigurd should contact their local water district for current diversion information.

The overall streamflow picture is one of a late-season basin under pressure: flows are low in volume at most points, stable at the upper gauge but falling at the lower end, and a key mid-basin gauge is offline. The large differential between the Hatch reading (42 cfs) and the Kingston and Lynndyl readings (both at 9 cfs) underscores the extent of consumptive use and diversion along the mainstem corridor.

Seasonal Guidance

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Data Sources: SNOTEL data through September 27, 2026; USGS streamflow data through September 28, 2026

Data Current As Of: September 28, 2026 | Sources: NRCS SNOTEL network (1 station), USGS National Water Information System (5 gauges)

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, Utah Division of Water Resources, Utah Division of Water Rights, and Utah State Engineer's Office for regulatory decisions and water rights administration.