Wasatch County Water Intelligence Brief

July 20, 2026 | Free-Tier Edition

Situation Summary

The Provo River basin entered the 2026 irrigation season after an anomalous March heat wave triggered snowmelt across the Mountain West 4–6 weeks ahead of historical median meltout dates, compressing the runoff window and reducing seasonal recharge to both streamflow and storage systems. Current streamflow readings across Wasatch County's Provo River gauges reflect mid-to-late summer baseline conditions, with supply now dependent on remaining reservoir carry-over storage rather than active snowmelt contribution. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All three Provo River basin SNOTEL stations reporting for this brief show 0.0" snow water equivalent (SWE) and 0.0" snow depth as of July 19, 2026 — consistent with normal seasonal conditions for this point in the calendar, when median SWE is also 0.0".

Station readings:

The accurate seasonal signal is not current snowpack deficit — it is meltout timing. Beaver Divide and Trial Lake, the primary long-record Provo basin indicators (both reporting since 1978), melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of their historical median meltout dates this year. Wolf Creek Peak provides supporting Provo basin data but has a short record — operational since August 2020, less than six full years — and should be interpreted with that limitation in mind.

Critical disclosure: The three SNOTEL stations physically located within Wasatch County (Currant Creek, Daniels-Strawberry, and White River #1) drain eastward to the Duchesne River and Colorado River basin. They do not monitor snowpack contributing to the Provo River system or Heber Valley water supply, and are excluded from this brief. Primary Provo basin snowpack indicators are the Summit County stations listed above.

The practical consequence of early meltout: active snowmelt is no longer supplementing streamflow or reservoir inflows. The basin is operating on stored water only.

Streamflow Conditions

Three USGS gauges on the Provo River provide current flow data across Wasatch County as of July 20, 2026:

The Charleston gauge (223 cfs, rising) reading above the Heber City gauge (194 cfs, stable) likely reflects tributary contributions or operational releases entering the system between those measurement points — users should monitor whether the rising trend at Charleston translates to changed conditions at downstream locations. The Hailstone gauge (36 cfs, rising) represents a markedly lower volume, consistent with diversions and consumptive use reducing mainstem flows through this reach.

For Heber Valley agricultural users: The 194 cfs reading at Heber City represents the core delivery reach for active irrigation. Stable conditions suggest near-term delivery continuity, but with no snowmelt supplement remaining, any prolonged dry period or increased upstream demand will not be offset by natural inflow. Coordinate with your ditch company or water master regarding current priority conditions before adjusting field schedules.

For Park City area (Wasatch-side) users: The Hailstone gauge at 36 cfs (rising) reflects conditions most relevant to the lower system reach. Reservoir storage — not current streamflow — is the governing supply variable for municipal users at this point in the season. Monitor Jordanelle Reservoir operational announcements from USBR Upper Colorado Region for guidance on storage trajectory.

Seasonal Guidance

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

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

Data Current As Of: July 20, 2026. Managing entity and reservoir storage figures current as verified through Utah Division of Water Rights and USBR Upper Colorado Region public records.

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 Upper Colorado Region (for Deer Creek, Jordanelle, and Strawberry Reservoir operations), Provo River Water Users Association, and Utah Division of Water Rights for regulatory decisions and water rights administration. Streamflow conditions can change rapidly; verify current readings at waterdata.usgs.gov before making operational decisions.