SLC Water Storage Remains Good at End of ‘05 Water Year

Utah Lake makes the largest gain in stored water.

LeRoy W. Hooton, Jr.

October 13, 2005

Major Provo River- Utah Lake-Jordan River Drainage reservoirs show strong recovery from the 5-year drought that gripped Utah.

Stored water in reservoirs recorded on October 1, 2005 foretells a good water supply for the coming year. The volumes of water stored in key reservoirs that supply water to the Wasatch Front indicate that the region has recovered from the effects of 5-year drought that saw storage decline to their lowest levels in 2003.

The above normal snow pack last winter replenished record low reservoir levels in the Provo River – Utah Lake – Jordan River Drainage. Jordanelle, Deer Creek and Little Dell reservoirs all filled to their capacity during the 2005 spring run-off. Only Utah Lake did not fill. At the end of the water year, there was a net gain of approximately 500,000 acre-feet of water storage in Jordanelle, Deer Creek and Little Dell reservoirs and Utah Lake.

Snowpack during May 2005 at the Trial Lake Snotel station measured 35 inches of equivalent water (SWE)) compared to 17 SWE in 2004. The average SWE is 26. For the

Little Dell Reservoir, located 5 miles east of Salt Lake City held 14,980 acre-feet of municipal water supply on October 1, 2005.

first time in 4 years, the Provo River Water Users Association allocated a 100 percent allotment to its shareholders. The Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake & Sandy received 61,700 acre-feet of water under the allotment.

Little Dell Reservoir, located 5 miles east of Salt Lake City held 14,980 acre-feet of water at the beginning of the new water year. When filled it contains 17,500 acre-feet of water. 

Utah Lake did not fill, but made the greatest gain with a net in storage of over 340,000 acre-feet. During September, water was released from Deer Creek Reservoir into Utah Lake to make room for run-off next spring. Area Bureau of Reclamation manager Bruce Barrett authorized the release of water to a level about 20 feet below full.

According to the “U.S. Drought Monitor” the state of Utah, including the Wasatch Front, is no longer under drought conditions.  The weather prognostication for the coming year indicates that there is a 50/50 chance of either a drier or wetter winter. However, whatever happens this coming winter, improved water storage this year will help provide an adequate water supply next year.

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