ST. GEORGE — Despite monsoonal rainstorms hitting various parts of the state in recent weeks, state water managers warn that the storms aren’t proving as beneficial as they otherwise could due to long-term drought conditions.
“Despite recent monsoons that have brought much-needed rain to some areas of the state, hot, bone dry conditions continue to bake our parched vegetation,” Joel Ferry, acting executive director of the Department of Natural Resources, said in a press release issued Friday morning.
“With temperatures in the triple digits and high winds, it doesn’t take much to spark a destructive wildfire. We need people to use good Fire Sense and help stretch our water supply.”
In all there have been 642 total fire starts this year with 351 of them determined to be human-caused. This number is down from 440 at this same time last year.
There is a positive to the monsoonal storms, however, as they have improved soil moisture to slightly above normal for this time of year, according to the Utah Division of Water Resources. Having moist soil helps keep melting snowpack from being adsorbed into otherwise dry earth, thus allowing snowpack runoff to reach lakes and streams. This can be critical as the majority of water that fills the state’s reservoirs comes from snowpack runoff.
As previously stated by local water managers with the Washington County Water Conservancy District, the storms also have the added benefit of getting water users to reduce their outdoor watering in the short term.
Concerning lake and reservoir levels across the state, statewide averages have dropped to 54%, with 25 of the state’s 45 reservoirs listed at below 55% available capacity.
In Southern Utah, Gunlock, Quail Creek and Sand Hollow reservoirs are at 54%, 61% and 73% capacity respectively. Panguitch Lake sits at 58% while Lake Powell reports 26%.
This year, reservoir storage started quite a bit lower than the prior year. With current reservoir storage close to last year’s percentage, this means much more water made it to streams and reservoirs.
Recreators are advised to check reservoir levels before they head out. Conditions vary, and some boat ramp closures are in place due to low water levels at locations like Lake Powell and elsewhere in the state.
State water managers have reported an increase in harmful algal blooms across the state over the last week due to higher temperatures and ongoing drought conditions that promote their development. The algal blooms, which create toxic bacteria that can harm humans and prove fatal to pets, remain present in the North Fork of the Virgin River in Zion National Park, as well as LaVerkin Creek.
According to the latest information released by the U.S. Drought Monitor, drought conditions continue to plague the state, with 83.56% of the state experiencing “extreme” or “exceptional” drought conditions. Extreme and exceptional drought conditions are the Drought Monitor’s most serious categories.
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