Water Intelligence Brief · Archive

Summit County, UT

July 6, 2026

Summit County, UT — Water Intelligence Brief

July 6, 2026 | Free-Tier Edition

Situation Summary

Summit County sits at the top of two separate river systems — the Weber River (flowing north through Echo and Rockport Reservoirs into the WBWCD system) and the Provo River (flowing south through Kamas Valley toward Jordanelle Reservoir in Wasatch County) — making it the source county for water supply across a broad swath of northern and central Utah. The 2026 season is defined not by low snowpack today, but by meltout timing: all four in-county SNOTEL stations melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, meaning the seasonal snowpack pulse arrived early and the system is now running on residual streamflow without snowmelt support. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All four in-county SNOTEL stations are at or near zero snow water equivalent as of July 5, reflecting normal end-of-season conditions for this calendar date — the concern is not today's reading but when meltout occurred.

Weber-side (Chalk Creek drainage):

  • Chalk Creek (Weber headwaters): SWE 0.0", snow depth 2.0". Note: this station is experiencing data collection issues — readings should be interpreted with caution and cross-referenced with adjacent stations.

    • Provo-side (upper Provo headwaters):

  • Trial Lake: SWE 0.8", snow depth 2.0". This is the sole remaining station with any measurable SWE, indicating a small residual snowpack patch at elevation — but at 0.8" SWE, the contribution to streamflow is minimal.
  • Beaver Divide: SWE 0.0", snow depth 0.0". Fully melted out.

    • The critical signal for Summit County's 2026 water year is meltout timing. Stations that historically hold snowpack into late June or early July melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, driven by an anomalous March heat wave. This means the seasonal snowmelt that normally sustains June and July streamflow in both the Weber and Provo headwaters ran off earlier in the spring — flows are now declining without the snowmelt buffer that typically extends into midsummer.

    Streamflow Conditions

    Summit County's gauges reflect the post-meltout transition: flows are generally falling across both watersheds, consistent with the loss of snowmelt support.

    Weber River Basin:

  • Weber River near Oakley: 71 cfs, falling. This is an upper mainstem reading on the Weber before it reaches the reservoir system — it reflects current headwaters output from the Oakley/Francis area.
  • Weber River near Coalville: 295 cfs, rising. The rising signal here is notable and may reflect local tributary contributions or short-term variability — users should monitor whether this trend continues.
  • Weber River at Echo: 300 cfs, falling. This is the primary basin integrator — it captures total upper Weber flow entering Echo Reservoir and represents what Summit County is currently delivering into the WBWCD system. The falling trend confirms post-meltout decline.
  • Weber River at Gateway: 171 cfs, falling. Downstream of the Echo gauge, reflecting routed flow after the reservoir system.
  • East Canyon Creek near Jeremy Ranch: 6 cfs, falling. This is the Park City–side Weber drainage. At 6 cfs and falling, East Canyon Creek is running very low for early July — a direct signal for municipal and resort-adjacent water managers on the west side of Summit County.

    • Provo River Basin:

  • Provo River near Woodland: 52 cfs, falling. This gauge measures what Summit County is contributing to the Provo system before it reaches Jordanelle Reservoir in Wasatch County. At 52 cfs and falling, the upper Provo is in post-meltout decline — Kamas Valley irrigators drawing from this system are entering the lower-flow portion of the season.

    • Seasonal Guidance

  • Contact Weber Basin Water Conservancy District (WBWCD) to check current storage status at Echo Reservoir and Rockport Reservoir, both of which are physically located in Summit County and serve as the primary buffer for the broader WBWCD delivery system.
  • Kamas Valley agricultural users (hay, alfalfa, cattle, horses) should contact Summit Water Distribution Company for current delivery schedules and any anticipated adjustments given falling upper Provo River flows.
  • Park City municipal and resort users should contact Park City Municipal Corporation for current Snyderville Basin water supply status and any conservation measures in effect for the summer season.
  • Coalville and Henefer area ranchers along the upper Weber mainstem should contact the Utah Division of Water Rights to review current water right priority and any active administrative actions on the Weber River system.

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

    Data Sources: SNOTEL data through July 5, 2026; USGS streamflow data through July 6, 2026

    Data Current As Of: July 6, 2026 — 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, Weber Basin Water Conservancy District (WBWCD — operates Echo Reservoir and Rockport Reservoir, both physically located in Summit County), U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Upper Colorado Region), Park City Municipal Corporation (municipal water for Park City and Snyderville Basin), Summit Water Distribution Company (Kamas Valley), Provo River Water Users Association (upper Provo River allocation), 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.

    Other Issues

    Summit County Brief — October 26, 2026Summit County Brief — October 19, 2026Summit County Brief — October 12, 2026Summit County Brief — October 5, 2026Summit County Brief — September 28, 2026Summit County Brief — September 21, 2026Summit County Brief — September 14, 2026Summit County Brief — September 7, 2026Summit County Brief — August 31, 2026Summit County Brief — August 24, 2026Summit County Brief — August 17, 2026Summit County Brief — August 10, 2026Summit County Brief — August 3, 2026Summit County Brief — July 27, 2026Summit County Brief — July 20, 2026Summit County Brief — July 13, 2026Summit County Brief — June 29, 2026Summit County Brief — June 22, 2026Summit County Brief — June 15, 2026Summit County Brief — June 9, 2026

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