Wasatch County Water Intelligence Brief

August 24, 2026 | Free-Tier Edition

Situation Summary

The Provo River basin entered the 2026 irrigation season with snowpack that melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, driven by an anomalous March heat wave. Current streamflow conditions reflect mid-to-late season draw-down across the basin, with Heber Valley agricultural users and Park City area municipal managers both operating in a compressed supply window. 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 August 23, 2026, which is normal for this date in the seasonal calendar — the median SWE at these stations is also 0.0" in late August. The water supply signal for 2026 is not current snowpack deficit, but meltout timing: the basin's snowpack melted out approximately 4–6 weeks earlier than the historical median meltout date, meaning the critical pulse of spring runoff that fills Provo River system storage arrived well ahead of schedule.

Station readings (August 23, 2026):

Wolf Creek Peak's trace snow depth reading (1.0") is noted but should be interpreted cautiously — this station has a short record dating only to August 2020 (less than 6 years), limiting its value as a historical baseline indicator.

Critical network 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. The primary Provo River basin snowpack indicators are Beaver Divide and Trial Lake, both located in Summit County and operating since 1978. Wasatch County agricultural and municipal users should understand that their basin's snowpack monitoring relies on Summit County stations.

Streamflow Conditions

Three USGS gauges on the Provo River system provide current flow context across the basin:

The falling trend at both the Heber City and Charleston gauges is consistent with late-season conditions following an early-melt year. The rising reading at Hailstone (30 cfs) diverges from the upper basin trend and may reflect reservoir operational releases or localized tributary inputs — Heber Valley users and Park City area managers should consult USBR Upper Colorado Region for current operational context before drawing conclusions from this gauge alone. At 183 cfs near Heber City, flows remain meaningful for active irrigation, but the falling trend warrants close coordination with delivery schedules. Heber Valley alfalfa and hay operations in final cutting windows should factor a continuing late-season decline into irrigation scheduling.

Seasonal Guidance

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

Data Sources: SNOTEL data through August 23, 2026; USGS streamflow data through August 24, 2026.

Data Current As Of: August 24, 2026. Water rights status current as of Utah Division of Water Rights 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.