Washington County, UT — Water Intelligence Brief

September 21, 2026 | Virgin River Basin | Free-Tier Edition

Situation Summary

Virgin River system flows are running stable this week, with the mainstem at Virgin registering 73 cfs and combined tributary inputs from the East and North Forks near Springdale totaling 85 cfs — conditions that reflect late-season baseflow rather than active snowmelt or monsoon pulse contribution. The Santa Clara River at St. George has declined to 2 cfs, signaling tightening late-season surface supply for that drainage ahead of fall. For WCWCD planners and municipal managers, Quail Creek and Sand Hollow reservoir storage status — not current streamflow — is the operative supply reliability variable this week; reservoir storage data and 7-day forecast details are available in the full brief.

Snowpack Conditions

All five SNOTEL stations monitoring the Virgin River basin headwaters are reporting zero snow water equivalent as of September 20, 2026 — a normal seasonal condition for this point in the calendar, when median SWE at these stations is also at or near zero. No below-normal language is warranted based on today's readings.

| Station | SWE | Depth |

|---|---|---|

| Gardner Peak | 0.3" | 0.0" |

| Gutz Peak | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Kolob | 0.0" | N/A |

| Long Valley Jct | 0.0" | 0.0" |

| Webster Flat | 0.0" | N/A |

The Gardner Peak trace reading of 0.3" SWE with 0.0" depth is consistent with instrument noise or a minor early-season dusting rather than meaningful accumulation. The relevant snowpack story for water year 2026 is timing: an anomalous March heat wave drove meltout across these stations 4–6 weeks ahead of the historical median meltout date, compressing the spring runoff pulse and reducing peak Virgin River delivery into WCWCD infrastructure earlier than planned.

Washington County's SNOTEL network is among the sparser in Utah — five stations across a basin with complex headwater terrain. This limited monitoring density means uncertainty is higher here than in better-instrumented northern Utah watersheds. Snowpack-based supply forecasting for the Virgin River basin carries inherently wider confidence intervals as a result.

Streamflow Conditions

Virgin River basin gauges are reporting largely stable flows reflecting late-season baseflow conditions.

Virgin River mainstem: The gauge at Virgin, UT reads 73 cfs (stable), and the gauge above La Verkin Creek near La Verkin reads 35 cfs (stable). The La Verkin reach represents upstream tributary contribution before Ash Creek and other inputs augment downstream flows.

North and East Fork tributaries near Springdale: The East Fork Virgin River reads 47 cfs (stable) and the North Fork reads 38 cfs (stable), together contributing approximately 85 cfs of combined upper-basin input — the primary headwater signal for system-wide flow.

Santa Clara River: The two Santa Clara gauges tell divergent short-term stories. The gauge near Pine Valley is reading 8 cfs and rising, suggesting a localized upstream input — likely a monsoon pulse or soil moisture response in the higher Pine Valley Mountain terrain. However, the downstream gauge at St. George has fallen to 2 cfs, indicating that upper-basin pulse is not yet translating to meaningful delivery at the point of municipal use. The Santa Clara corridor serves Gunlock Reservoir and the broader St. George water system; the 2 cfs reading at St. George warrants continued monitoring through the week.

For Hurricane Valley agricultural users irrigating alfalfa, current Virgin River mainstem flows are serviceable for late-season cutting support but are subject to continued decline as the basin moves fully out of monsoon season. Enterprise area dairy and cattle operations drawing on local sources should note the Santa Clara system's reduced condition.

Seasonal Guidance

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Data Sources: SNOTEL data through September 20, 2026; USGS streamflow data through September 21, 2026.

Data Current As Of: September 21, 2026. Utah Division of Water Rights and WCWCD records not independently verified as of brief date.

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 and Washington County Water Conservancy District (WCWCD), the primary water authority for Quail Creek and Sand Hollow reservoirs, for regulatory decisions and water rights administration. Washington County lies within the Lower Colorado River basin (Virgin River sub-basin, HUC 15); all surface water and groundwater planning occurs within Colorado River Compact and Lower Basin shortage framework obligations. The proposed Lake Powell Pipeline remains dormant pending Colorado River system conditions and federal review. The Shivwits Band of Paiutes holds recognized water rights in Washington County — consult the Utah Division of Water Rights for current adjudication status relevant to local planning decisions.