Despite historic snowpack, Utah’s still suffering the effects of drought

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s drought conditions have improved drastically according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. But water experts say we can’t rest on our laurels. 

Only 35% of Utah’s land is in some sort of drought compared to 100% last October.

But Dr. Jon Meyer with the Utah Climate Center said we’ve been so dry for so long that our aquifers, groundwater and major reservoirs are still suffering. Despite all the rain and snow, Utah still needs to conserve.

Meyer likened the situation to a savings account. We’ve made a lot of money but our savings account is still low.

“We’ve gotten a great amount of water income over the last half year to nine months. We don’t want to spend it all in one year.”

Dr. Meyer said he’s still concerned about the region’s long-term water security, saying “We just don’t really know what the next couple of years will look like with a degree of certainty.”

More on Utah’s drought:

• Boats back in the Great Salt Lake Marina thanks to rising water levels
• Inside Sources: How much water does Utah get to keep?
• Sandbags and water conservation are both needed in Utah right now