Despite strong state averages, Yuba Reservoir is not even half full
Jun 3, 2024, 2:02 PM | Updated: 3:24 pm
FILE - The waters of Yuba Reservoir are pictured. (Ray Grass/Deseret News)
(Ray Grass/Deseret News)
JUAB COUNTY, Utah– Utah’s reservoirs are reaping the benefits of the last two strong winters. On average, excluding Lake Powell and Flaming Gorge, Utah’s reservoirs are over 91% full. However, that isn’t the case for Yuba Reservoir.
As of Tuesday morning, the Utah Division of Water Resources listed Yuba Reservoir as just 41% full.
Andy Nickle is the president of Consolidated Sevier Bridge Reservoir Company, which owns the dam holding up Yuba Reservoir.
According to Nickle, the main reason for Yuba Reservoir’s low levels is a lack of snow. The area, which is 25 miles south of Nephi, did not receive as much snow as the rest of the state in 2023 or 2024.
“We just never got the snowpack that the rest of Utah got,” Nickle said. “We were never able to get above the 1984 totals that the rest of Utah was fortunate to see.”
Nickle said the company has also been working recently to make major structural upgrades to the dam. They did not have to release any water during the upgrades.
“We’ve been able to capture and hold all of the water that has made it to [Yuba Reservoir] and efficiently use it,” Nickle said.
The structural upgrades to the dam are done, according to Nickle. Now, the company just needs to work out some programming issues.
Nickle is hopeful Mother Nature will help them get more water into Yuba Reservoir.
“We hope to get it filled up and have a dam that’s new and ready to go into the future,” Nickle said.
Related: Come on in, the water’s fine (but remember to wear a life jacket)
