1 week Ago
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox declared a state of emergency for 17 of the state’s 29 counties Thursday due to low water supplies and worrying drought conditions. Thirteen counties, mostly in southern Utah, are in severe or extreme drought according to the U.
S. Drought Monitor . The other four are at risk of drought due to low snow levels.
It has been three years since the governor issued a drought declaration. About 46% of the state is suffering from drought, the governor’s office said. “We’ve been monitoring drought conditions closely, and unfortunately, our streamflow forecasts are low, particularly in southern Utah,” Cox said in a statement.
“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.” The affected counties include Beaver, Carbon, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier, San Juan, Tooele, Uintah, Washington and Wayne.
Southwestern Utah, especially Washington County, has seen a historically dry winter . And despite decent snowpack levels in Utah’s northern mountains, this year’s runoff is expected to be lackluster. Cox’s office said in a release that even though the state’s reservoirs are at 84% full , “drought is unpredictable, and taking proactive measures to prepare is critical.
” Cox, in his order , recommended that water suppliers and irrigators use water-efficient landscaping to save water. He asked the affected counties to prioritize conservation of drinking water. Drought threatens the agricultural sector, drinking water supplies and wildlife habitat, the governor’s order says .
The conditions also increase the risk of wildfire. The governor also recommended that residents minimize their water use by:.
