Wasatch County Water Intelligence Brief

August 17, 2026 | Free-Tier Edition

Situation Summary

The 2026 water year for the Provo River basin is defined by early meltout: Provo basin SNOTEL stations melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, meaning the snowpack-driven supply pulse arrived and passed well before typical peak irrigation demand in Heber Valley. Current streamflow shows a mixed signal — gauges near Heber City and Charleston are rising while the Hailstone gauge is falling — reflecting mid-August conditions that warrant close monitoring for both agricultural users and municipal planners. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All three Provo River basin SNOTEL stations relevant to this brief are reporting at or near zero snow water equivalent (SWE) and snowpack depth, which is the expected and normal seasonal condition for mid-August — not a below-normal signal.

Station readings as of August 16, 2026:

The median SWE for all three stations at this date in mid-August is also 0.0", so current readings reflect normal late-season conditions rather than an anomalous deficit. The operationally significant 2026 snowpack story is timing: basin snowpack melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, driven by an anomalous March heat wave across the Mountain West. That early pulse has already moved through the system.

Critical disclosure on station geography: The three SNOTEL stations physically located within Wasatch County — Currant Creek, Daniels-Strawberry, and White River #1 — drain east to the Duchesne River and Colorado River basin. They do not monitor snowpack contributing to the Provo River system or Heber Valley water users, and they are excluded from this brief. Beaver Divide and Trial Lake, both located in Summit County, are the primary Provo River basin snowpack indicators. Wolf Creek Peak is located in Wasatch County and does drain to the Provo River basin, but its record is short — reporting since August 2020, fewer than six years — and should be interpreted with that limitation in mind.

Streamflow Conditions

Three active USGS gauges provide current Provo River basin streamflow readings for Wasatch County as of August 17, 2026:

The rising signal at both the Heber City and Charleston gauges suggests increased inflow or release activity in the mid-basin reach. The Hailstone gauge, which reflects conditions further downstream near Jordanelle Reservoir, is falling at 20 cfs — a substantially lower reading than the upstream gauges. The divergence between the rising mid-basin signal and the falling downstream signal may reflect reservoir operations or tributary contributions, but no causal explanation is available from the data provided.

For Heber Valley agricultural users, the 227 cfs reading at Heber City provides the most direct indication of water available in the main canal delivery reach. Mid-August is typically a period of sustained irrigation demand for alfalfa and pasture, and users should coordinate with their delivery schedules against current ditch company and Provo River Water Users Association allocations.

For Park City-area municipal and recreational users on the Wasatch side, the Hailstone gauge near Jordanelle is the most relevant surface water indicator. The falling 20 cfs reading at that station warrants monitoring in context of reservoir inflow and 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 August 16, 2026; USGS streamflow data through August 17, 2026

Data Current As Of: August 17, 2026; administrative water rights information current per 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 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 gauge readings at waterdata.usgs.gov before making operational decisions.