Drought conditions prompt state of emergency in Utah
Apr 24, 2025, 7:00 PM
FILE: Cottonwood Heights police officers check the tread of a tire at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. Drought concerns due to below-average snowfall have prompted Utah Gov. Spencer Cox to declare a state of emergency in 17 of Utah's counties. (Laura Seitz, Deseret News)
(Laura Seitz, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — Drought concerns have prompted Utah Gov. Spencer Cox to declare a state of emergency in 17 of Utah’s counties.
On Thursday, the U.S. Drought Monitor webpage listed almost all of Washington County and a portion of Iron County, or 4% of Utah, as being in “extreme drought.”
Related: Experts weigh in on sluggish start to northern Utah’s snow season
Eleven other counties, which make up 42% of Utah, are described by the same source as being in “severe drought.”
The governor’s order was also influenced by a recommendation from the state’s Drought Response Committee.
The counties included in the state of emergency are Washington, Iron, San Juan, Kane, Juab, Emery, Grand, Beaver, Garfield, Piute, Millard, Tooele, Uintah, Carbon, Sevier, Sanpete, and Wayne counties.
For comparison purposes, the last time Utah water conditions merited an emergency declaration was in April, 2022.
Low snowpack
According to the USDA, by April 3, Utah reached 14.3 inches of snow water equivalent. This is the median peak, or maximum amount of snowpack water, for 2025. By April 23, the snow water equivalent percentage in much of southern and southeast Utah was below 50% of historical averages.
Related: Utah’s meteorological winter has been a mixed bag. What is forecast for spring?
“We’ve been monitoring drought conditions closely, and unfortunately, our streamflow forecasts are low, particularly in southern Utah,” said Gov. Cox in a press release.
“I urge all Utahns to be extremely mindful of their water use and find every possible way to conserve. Water conservation is critical for Utah’s future.”
What you can do to help ease drought conditions
By issuing the emergency declaration, Gov. Cox has formally acknowledged the severity of current conditions. Gov. Cox said all Utahns can help with water conservation by:
- waiting to water the lawn until temperatures are in the mid 70s,
- considering water-smart landscaping,
- fixing leaks around your home,
- running full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine, and
- reducing your shower by one minute.
