Snowfalls to help water year

Despite the wet and wintry conditions that have been pounding much of the state the past few days, Utah's water health is about average and not quite where it was last year, according to the latest numbers.

In a forecast presentation to the Utah Water Users Association on Wednesday, snow survey supervisor Randy Julander said the season has been marked by big storms delivering a powerful punch followed by long dry spells.

"It's been either feast or famine," said Julander, who works for the National Resources Conservation Service.

Julander likened it to having one leg in a bucket of ice and the other on fire: "On average, you feel pretty good."

The result is snowpack totals as of Wednesday that hover between 90 percent and 100 percent of average around the state, he said. Standout areas include the Virgin River/St. George area, which is at 120 percent of average, compared with the north slope of the Uintas, which is 60 percent to 70 percent of average.

Those numbers, while comfortable, still have water forecasters hoping the months of March and April don't duplicate the dry patterns seen in 2008.

"It just rolled over and died on us," Julander said, pointing out that if a dry pattern takes over, those averages could dip to the 60 percent to 40 percent range.

While the powdery precipitation piling up in driveways and next to sidewalks is an enemy to your aching back, the snow is a best friend to Utah's reservoir levels.

Lisa Verzella, a hydrologist with the Bureau of Reclamation, said reservoir storage levels are a "little better" than they were last year, and if current trends continue, Lake Powell, for example, will be 23 feet higher than it was last year.

Verzella predicted it would be possible to fill Willard Bay, and Deer Creek Reservoir could be at capacity for recreationers.

Another series of snow storms is expected to march across the state at least through Saturday, which is encouraging to Julander and other water watchers.

The snow piling up in the mountains will not only boost precipitation totals but help saturate the soil.

Julander said the state on average is a bit behind last year in terms of moisture content in the soil, which is important to increase runoff levels.

E-mail: amyjoi@desnews.com