July 2021 Newsletter

Dean Harmon July 22, 2021

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

By Rodney Banks

Where has all the water gone? The climate outlook of a hot and dry summer is playing out before our very eyes. The lack of precipitation has further deepened our drought situation and has placed a large strain on what little water there is available across the state. Many in the agricultural community have had to make difficult decisions about crops and this will have an impact on everyone in the state. A low snowpack and abysmal runoff has left several of the reservoirs in the state at under 50% full and some much lower than that.

Some of us have encountered bumps in the road as we have attempted to navigate the challenges of communicating with our customers. We have discovered that for many we are not doing enough and for others we are doing too much. No matter where you find yourself on this spectrum, it is paramount that you keep your customers informed of your current water situation and the efforts you are making to mitigate the impacts of drought. Most customers will appreciate your efforts to keep them informed.

In the water community, we typically keep our heads down and do what we do best which is deliver water. In the drought situation we currently find ourselves in, we will most likely be noticed for what we are doing whether good or bad. Thank you all for what you do each and every day to keep the water flowing. Your tremendous efforts are appreciated. We invite all to attend the upcoming Water Summit in October at the Utah Valley Convention Center. This will be a wonderful opportunity for us to rub shoulders and discuss the ups and downs of the water year. I hope to see you all there.

WATER OUTLOOK

By Jordan Clayton (NRCS)

Last month’s accumulated precipitation was only 31% of normal, bringing the water-year-to-date accumulation to 64% in Utah’s mountains. In our valley locations, the 2021 water year total now stands at a paltry 4.1 inches or so of precipitation. Statewide soil moisture is at 38% of saturation, compared with 52% last year. Unless we receive significant precipitation this summer and fall, we will enter next year’s snowpack season with another soil moisture deficit, which will again necessitate an above-average snowpack just to get average runoff. As noted in our Water Supply Outlook Reports this spring, we anticipated that we would receive alarmingly low runoff from last winter’s snow due to the dry soils and below-average snow water equivalent levels which, unfortunately, turned out to be correct. Most streams in Utah have already delivered the majority of water supply related to snowmelt. In numerous cases, the total volume of streamflow received was either the lowest or the second-lowest quantity ever recorded for those locations.

As of July 1st, Utah’s reservoir storage was at 58% of capacity, which is 26% lower than last year at that time. Statewide storage can be projected to decline to a low of roughly 40% capacity based on a 25% annual drop seen during other recent dry years. Importantly, Utah’s reservoirs are very unlikely to see substantial gains until next spring’s runoff. Based on current precipitation and soil moisture conditions, we really need next winter’s snowpack to be outstanding to preclude a continued decline in our reservoir storage levels. However, we could potentially be looking at statewide reservoir storage in the 15-20% of capacity range (or worse) by the end of next summer if conditions remain similar to this year. Water managers should take note of this potential outcome. These water supply conditions are causing Utah’s current Water Availability Indices (WAIs) to drop to historically-low levels (bottom 10th percentile) for 10 of Utah’s 18 major basins, and to extremely-low levels (bottom 20th percentile) for all other basins except for the Bear, Virgin, and Smith’s Creek watersheds.

WEATHER OUTLOOK

BY Glen Merrill (NWS)

To summarize in a just a few words, we have, and continue to, break all the wrong records. Temperatures have been the standout, with June being the record warmest for the state dating back to the late 1800’s, and also well below normal precipitation across the board. A record breaking heat wave set in under anomalously strong high pressure which extended from the desert southwest north through the pacific northwest, mid to late June driving this. Record temperatures were set all across the western states, with some notable standouts locally being Salt Lake City seeing its earliest 100F recording in history on June 4th, Salt Lake City tying it’s all time record of 107F on the 15th (never before in June), triple digits and records in the Cache, and many, many areas elsewhere across the state. As we know, June is the transition towards the summer season climatologically, the transition into the warm season, and the driest period of the year on average from mid-month through mid-July. This year however, June was more similar to a near record July temp-wise, and the last thing we needed to see in the drought that has now worsened even further. Over 98% of the state is now in extreme or exceptional drought conditions, the two worst categories, and an 8% increase over the last three months. The 2% of the state that remains below extreme drought are confined to the Bear River Valley region, and portions of the north slope of the Uinta’s. This being said, those areas remain pegged solidly into the severe drought category. Well below normal precipitation this past spring extending into the early summer and record breaking heat are to be blamed, and in most cases this has continued into July. Of note, July 10th saw St George tie the all-time state record temperature of 117F. Salt Lake has now been over 100F fifteen times already. All the wrong records.

We have seen a slightly earlier than normal development of the southwestern monsoon over the last few weeks, with several days of our typical afternoon/evening shower and thunderstorm development focused over central and southern portions, but this hasn’t been necessarily positive. Flash flooding wreaked havoc across several prone areas in the south on June 29th, with Zion National Park closing its gates after a large flood that extended out of the park and into Springdale. Widespread flash flooding in Hildale, the Escalante region, and outside of Big Water occurred on the same day. No fatalities was the positive, but several in those areas needed rescue, and cleanup continues for some. Just yesterday (7/14), flooding impacted the Enoch area, and the Escalante River Basin once again. From not enough precipitation, to too much, too fast. Events that are very typical during monsoon season locally.

We need steadier, more frequent, and more widespread precipitation to dig out of this hole. Looking forward the outlook remains status quo (in large) into the beginnings of our 2022 water season. The tables remain tipped heavily for above normal temperatures across the state, and somewhat favored for below normal precipitation through October. It hasn’t been a “nonsoon” thus far like we saw last year and the one prior, so that’s positive in large, but I continue to look out and keep my fingers crossed for a banner 2022 water season with plentiful precipitation during the months that matter most. That however, remains an unknown.

Water & The Law

By Jeffry R. Gittins

(SMITH HARTVIGSEN, PLLC)

UPDATE ON WATER RIGHT ADJUDICATIONS

Across the state, water right adjudications continue to move forward. As noted by the Utah Division of Water Rights, “[t]he water rights adjudication process helps to bring order and certainty to the water rights record throughout the state by defining existing rights, quantifying unknown rights, and removing unused and abandoned rights from the record through judicial decree.” This article provides updates on some of these water right adjudication proceedings. In February 2021, the Division initiated a new adjudication in Daniels Creek, Area 55-11. The next areas to be adjudicated are:

  • Lake Creek, Area 55-12 (anticipated to begin in 2021)
  • Jordanelle, Area 55-13 (anticipated to begin in 2022)
  • Francis-Woodland, Area 55-14 (anticipated to begin in 2022)
  • Upper Provo, Area 55-15 (anticipated to begin in 2023)

In March 2021, the Division has issued the List of Unclaimed Rights for Midway, Area 55-10. The Division has published Proposed Determinations in several areas:

  • Red Butte Creek, Area 57-3 (November 2020)
  • West Murray, Area 57-19 (December 2020)
  • Mill Creek, Area 57-15 (May 2021).

The Division anticipates publishing more Proposed Determinations in 2021. The next Proposed Determinations to be published are:

  • Liberty Park, Area 57-11
  • Parleys Creek, Area 57-14
  • Holladay, Area 57-16
  • West Big Cottonwood Creek, Area 57-17
  • Moab North, Area 05-02
  • Moab South, Area 05-05.

The Special Master and Third District Court continue to hear objections to Proposed Determinations in numerous adjudication areas, including three areas that pre-date the Special Master’s appointment:

  • Hobble Creek, Area 51-4
  • Goshen Valley, Area 53-1
  • Emigration Creek, Area 57-1.

It is critical that water right owners understand and participate in the adjudication process in their respective areas. Failure to do so could result in water rights being reduced or even disallowed in.

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTORS CORNER

By Carly Burton

Workshop Update

First I am happy to report that the Utah Water Users Workshop which was held in St. George on May 17-19 was a great success in spite of the lingering issues with Covid-19. We counted 711 registrants, 42 co-sponsors, 44 vendors, 76 golfers and 34 who attended the guest program. Total attendance and participation from all sources was 998, not too shabby under the circumstances. I would like to thank all who attended and made the Workshop a great success. We are scheduled to hold the Workshop on March 21-23, 2022 at the Dixie Convention Center in St. George so mark your calendars for next year.

Utah Water Summit Update

We are moving ahead with the Utah Water Summit Conference which will be held on October 12, 2021 at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo. Because of the ongoing critical drought conditions throughout the west our theme this year will be “Drought in Utah- Challenges to Water users and Water Suppliers”. We will include a wide range of topics including (1) Drought on the Colorado River and Lake Powell, (2) Drought Response Actions by Public Water Suppliers, (3) Secondary Water Metering Issues During Droughts, (4) Partnership Trends Among Cities & Water Districts to Implement Water Wise Ordinances, (5) Drought Issues for Agriculture, (6) State and Local Authority During Drought emergency Declaration and, last but not least, (7) Water Supply Outlook for 2021 and Comparisons with Historical Droughts. Registration information will be posted on our website at www.utahwaterusers.com in 2 to 3 weeks. We look forward to seeing you there to attend this timely and important event.

Water Supply Tidbits

Lately, I have been following the operation of Lake Powell since it is my all time favorite to recreate on. As of July 15, Lake Powell elevation stands at 3,556.97 feet which is 143 feet below full pool and 52 feet lower than the same date last year. Inflow is only 2,300 CFS and outflow to Lake Mead is 13,000 CFS. Because of the great difference between inflow and outflow the lake is dropping at an alarming rate of 1 foot every four days. The only 2 operable boat ramps left on the lake are at Halls Crossing and Wahweap. But, guess what, in 4 more days the water level at Wahwep will reach the bottom of the boat ramp. Who would have guessed we would have reached the lowest lake level since filling began in 1961. Pretty sad if you ask me.

Scholarship Program

We are now taking scholarship applications for anyone in college and majoring in a water resources related field. If you have a relative who may be interested, have them contact Bart Forsythe at Jordan Valley Water at 801-565-4300 or email him at bartf@jvwcd.org.