Nearly half of Utah reservoirs are 100% full
Jun 17, 2024, 1:19 PM | Updated: Jun 21, 2024, 7:59 am
Low water levels are pictured in Echo Reservoir north of Coalville on Thursday, May 6, 2021. (Kristin Murphy/Deseret News)
(Kristin Murphy/Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY— Two years of strong winters and spring runoffs have done wonders for Utah’s water supply. Of the 45 bodies of water, 20 Utah reservoirs are now 100% full.
According to the Utah Division of Water Resources website, these Utah reservoirs are currently full:
- Pineview Reservoir
- Woodruff Narrows Reservoir
- Woodruff Creek
- Lost Creek Reservoir
- East Canyon Reservoir
- Smith and Morehouse Reservoir
- Stateline Reservoir
- Deer Creek Reservoir
- Grantsville Reservoir
- Moon Lake Reservoir
- Big Sand Wash Reservoir
- Steinaker Reservoir
- Utah Lake
- Scofield Reservoir
- Cleveland Lake
- Joes Valley Reservoir
- Millsite
- Ken’s Lake
- Minersville Reservoir
- Gunlock
On average, the other Utah reservoirs are just over 93% full. That excludes Lake Powell and Flaming Gorge Reservoir.
The Bureau of Reclamation manages both of them.
“This is extremely encouraging,” said Michael Sanchez, the Utah Division of Water Resources’ public information officer. “We’re just seeing…big benefits over these last two years.”
According to Sanchez, the extra water does not only benefit those who use it. The entire system, including wildlife and groundwater saturation, reaps the benefits.
We still need to conserve for Utah reservoirs
While the state’s water supply is in great shape now, Sanchez and other water managers say Utah’s next drought could be on the doorstep.
In just 2022, most of Utah was in extreme drought before the record winter of 2023 turned the tide.
Plus, not all of Utah’s water bodies are in good shape. The Great Salt Lake and Lake Powell still have a long way to go before they reach optimal water levels.
“If we’re not in a drought, we’re definitely preparing for the next,” Sanchez said.
This is why Sanchez, and other water watchers, are encouraging Utahns to keep conserving water, so we still have enough for a not-so-rainy day.
“We’re kind of all part of the problem [and] all part of the solution,” Sanchez said. “We really need to be in this together.”
This article has been updated to correct language regarding which Utah reservoirs are federally-managed. Some state reservoirs, besides Lake Powell and Flaming Gorge, are also federally-managed.
Adam Small is a reporter for KSL NewsRadio. He primarily reports on the Great Salt Lake and Natural Resources. Follow him on Facebook and X.
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