Wasatch County Water Intelligence Brief

September 28, 2026 | Free-Tier Edition

Situation Summary

Provo River mainstem flows through Heber Valley are holding in the mid-280s cfs at the River Road Bridge and Charleston gauges as of September 27, remaining stable and providing reliable late-season delivery conditions for alfalfa and hay operations entering their final irrigation cycle. The Hailstone gauge, however, reads 40 cfs and falling, signaling reduced upper-basin contribution as the season winds down. Reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details — including Jordanelle and Deer Creek operational outlooks — are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

Important disclosure: The three SNOTEL stations physically within Wasatch County — Currant Creek, Daniels-Strawberry, and White River #1 — drain east to the Colorado River basin via the Duchesne drainage. They do not monitor snowpack contributing to the Provo River system or Heber Valley users and are excluded from this brief. Primary Provo River basin snowpack indicators are Trial Lake and Beaver Divide, both Summit County stations with records dating to 1978. Wolf Creek Peak is located in Wasatch County and drains to the Provo River basin but has a short record — reporting began August 2020, fewer than six years of data — and should be interpreted with caution.

Current station readings as of September 27:

At this point in the calendar, September SWE values of zero are the historical norm at these elevations — no percent-of-median figures are reported because the median is also effectively zero. These readings do not indicate a below-normal condition for today's date. The relevant 2026 signal is timing: snowpack across the Provo River basin melted out 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, driven by anomalous warmth in March. That early meltout compressed spring runoff delivery and reduced the window for reservoir filling earlier in the season. The Trial Lake reading of 0.9" SWE is a minor residual — not operationally significant at this stage.

Streamflow Conditions

Three active USGS gauges monitor the Provo River system through Wasatch County:

The near-identical readings at River Road Bridge and Charleston suggest flow is moving coherently through the Heber Valley reach with minimal gain or loss between those two points. For Heber Valley irrigators, stable flows in the mid-280s cfs represent workable late-season conditions — sufficient for coordinated final cuttings and stock water needs if delivery infrastructure is operating normally.

The Hailstone gauge at 40 cfs and falling is the notable signal. This gauge captures flow in the upper portion of the system, and its declining trajectory reflects the natural late-season recession as upland contributions diminish with no active snowmelt. Users drawing from upper reaches or dependent on Hailstone-area diversions should expect continued decline through the remainder of the irrigation season.

Seasonal Guidance

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

Data Sources: SNOTEL data through September 27, 2026; USGS streamflow data through September 27, 2026.

Data Current As Of: September 28, 2026. Utah Division of Water Rights records current as of date of publication.

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 and snowpack data are provisional and subject to revision by USGS and NRCS.