From Deseret News archives:
Snowpacked: Some areas of Utah could go from drought to flooding this spring
Extremely heavy snowpacks were recorded Jan. 1 in areas where the drought has been most scorching the Virgin River drainage of southwestern Utah and the Sevier River in the western part of the state.
Some places are "already starting to be of genuine concern," said Randy Julander, snow survey supervisor with the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service, based in Salt Lake City.
In Midway Valley above Cedar City, a watershed that drains into Cold Creek, the average peak snowpack on April 1 holds 27 inches of water. "Right now it has 36 inches, and we still have three months of winter to go," Julander said.
"That could send a lot of water down through Cold Creek, which goes through the middle of Cedar City."
He noted it's still early in the water year, and much can happen before the spring runoff begins. But if strong snowstorms keep coming through the mountains above Cedar City, he said, "My goodness, there's going to be a lot of water going down there."
Other than the possibility of flooding, the monthly snowpack figures are great news for the Beehive State. In the past few years, farmers watched helplessly while their fields dried up, water was shut off for irrigators and ranchers were forced to sell livestock when feed became too expensive.
Now, if the early trend holds, reservoirs may begin to refill. But that is a big if.
The most important watersheds for northern Utah's water are those of the Bear River, Weber River and Provo River/Utah Lake. They were measured at 112 percent, 136 percent and 134 percent, respectively.
"Those three watersheds are almost exactly the same place they were last year, same time," Julander warned. They look good right now, but in 2004 "we had that marvelous snowpack and basically it just tanked on us."
When that nice-looking snowpack evaporated, northern Utah was stuck with another year of drought.
This year, he said, "We like what we see. But the eventual outcome is pretty much up in the air. It could go any direction at this point."
The same does not seem to be true for other parts of Utah, which have been walloped by several storms. A good runoff seems nearly assured:
Comments
- Mubarak warns Israel over Jerusalem 9:39 a.m.
- 65 leaders set for climate summit 9:36 a.m.
- Nevada grabs rushing records 9:34 a.m.
- RSL will play for MLS Cup tonight 3:06 a.m.
- Jazz outlast Pistons in overtime 3:06 a.m.
- Utah Utes whip SDSU 3:05 a.m.
- BYU records with win 3:05 a.m.
- RSL dancing with soccer stars 3:04 a.m.
- Cougars turn focus to dreaded rivals 3:04 a.m.
- Dixie State campus briefs 3:03 a.m.
- Glenn Beck to enter politics?
- BYU records with win
- Police link alcohol to murder
- Can BYU throw vs. Air Force?
- Huntsman blasts media over trip
- Christian leaders not backing down
- Memo out again tonight for Jazz
- Cougars cruise to victory in Hawaii
- Jazz outlast Pistons in overtime
- Nephi's steel bow difficult to replicate
- Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws
193 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
173 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
149 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
122 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
100 - BYU records with win
99 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
98 - Utes knock off rival Aggies
93 - Huntsman pleased with Obama
87
A little after midnight Wednesday morning, about 21 hours ago as I write...
There's a lot of reason to leave your plastic home as you shop:
Mick - you really have no clue as to the corporate/congress connection. You...
Keanu, is that you? I guess RSL has some star power too! ;-)
I just see a huge double standard. Here is a family who tried to do...
Why don't you just show the entire article in DNS, I am tired of having to go...
It was only SDSU. They play much better at home and much worse on the road....
what channel are they playing??
It's so weird. A week before Thanksgiving and already the Xmas decorations...
We loved it! Thanks for the team effort. You overcame some unusual...
It was an Even with the glitches.
BYU can do better than those two. The defense stinks and the offense is to...



You can be the first to comment on this story.