"However, the rapid increase in the (drought) ratings between 2000 and 2002 is cause for concern," the report said.

In addition, for Utah's southwestern corner and an area called the central highlands, the latest years in which more extremely dry months occurred were in 1900 and 1902, respectively.

Irrigation consumes somewhat more than 79 percent of Utah's water. But consumption of municipal water has been going up.

Between 1995 and 2000, consumption of municipal water rose from 269 gallons per person, per day, to 293 gallons.

"This was one of the largest increases in the country," the report noted. "Only four states — Colorado, Hawaii, Texas and Louisiana — had larger increases in the amount of municipal water used per person."

Part of that could be explained by more vigorous watering of lawns when they dried out, as rainfall was reduced. But part is because of population increase.

Kroes said residents of the St. George region are "really feeling the pinch" because growth is fast there "and they have a very small river system that they tap into for their water supply."

The present dry period "serves to highlight the need for people to conserve and to plan for new water projects," Kroes said.

It elevates water conservation as a matter of concern for Utahns, he added.

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