Sevier County Water Intelligence Brief

October 19, 2026 | Sevier River Basin

Situation Summary

Streamflows across the Sevier River system are running in a falling trend at most gauges this week, with the mainstem at Hatch reading 58 cfs and declining, and the Sevier near Lynndyl at 27 cfs and also falling — conditions consistent with late-October recession as the irrigation season winds down. With snowpack at Farnsworth Lake showing only early-season accumulation, the basin enters the off-season with limited near-term recharge in the pipeline. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

Farnsworth Lake (10/18): SWE 1.4", Depth 4.0"

The Farnsworth Lake SNOTEL station is recording 1.4 inches of snow water equivalent at 4.0 inches depth as of October 18 — a modest early-season accumulation reflecting the basin's transition into late fall. For mid-October, the presence of some snowpack is within the range of normal early accumulation; median SWE for this date is near zero at most stations, so this reading does not signal an anomalous condition in either direction. The 2026 season was defined by an anomalous March heat wave that caused snowpack to melt out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date — that event is now background context as the basin looks ahead to 2026–27 accumulation season.

Streamflow Conditions

Sevier River Basin gauges present a mixed but predominantly falling picture this week:

The mainstem pattern shows the upper reach at Hatch (58 cfs, falling) running ahead of the Kingston gauge (53 cfs, rising), suggesting localized tributary input or routing effects between those two points. The Lynndyl gauge at the lower end of the system reads 27 cfs falling, reflecting the cumulative effect of upstream diversions and natural attenuation along the basin length. Manti Creek at 3 cfs falling is consistent with late-season tributary recession. The absence of recent data from the Sigurd gauge is a monitoring gap that limits visibility into mid-basin conditions; users dependent on that reach should contact their local water district for current delivery status.

Seasonal Guidance

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Data Sources: SNOTEL data through October 18, 2026; USGS streamflow data through October 19, 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.