The winners and the losers

• Winner: Utah's snowpack is about 120 percent of normal, which is very good news for a state that is normally one of the most arid in the Lower 48. But it's no excuse to waste water. Utahns must continue to conserve. Water will become increasingly precious as the state's population continues to grow. The only downside to the year's heavy snowpack is the possibility of spring flooding. Parts of Salt Lake City, the Ogden River Valley, the Morgan Valley and Snyderville Basin are at highest risk, according to the National Weather Service.

• Loser/Winner: Too few people who have adopted pets from Davis County Animal Services have redeemed their coupons for pet spay and neuter services. That's troublesome considering a goodly share of the caseload at any animal shelter results from intact animals producing litters of unwanted puppies and kittens. The good news is, the county now has a surplus in the spay/neuter fund so people who now adopt pets will pay only half the going rate for these services. The nonprofit No More Homeless Pets plans to visit the area at least once a month for the remainder of the year to help provide these services.

• Loser: Cuts in interest rates may be a boon to borrowers, but they pinch retirees and people on fixed incomes. Not only are their returns on savings curbed, they are also coping with the rising costs of motor fuel, food and health care. To further complicate matters, some experts say drops in credit card interest rates could lag by three months.