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.. ., . . 2 runoff conditions will be extremely critical, But if there is below normal precipitation and moder~te temper~tures this spring, the flood potenti~l could be dramatically reduced. SOUTHER~ UTAH: The seasonal water supply for southern Utah again looks very high. Forecasts on the upper Sevier River range from 167% of normal at Hatch to 244% inflow to Piute Reservoir, Forecasts on the San Pitch River are expected to be 200 to 300 percent of normal, while the inflow forecast for the reach from Sigurd to Gunnison on the Sevier River is 150,000 acre-feet, 577 percent of the 20-year (1961-1980) average. December precipitation over southern Utah was very erratic with portions of the Virgin River basin receiving less than normal while farther north on the lower .Sevier River basin the a,-erage precipitation Ivas well over 200%, December amounts ranged from only 42% at Bryce Canyon to 286% ~t 1~nti and 307% at Beaver Canyon Power House, Seasonal precipication has also been quite err~tic following the same pattern as December. The Virgin River basin was near normal, but farther north in the lower Sevier Basin precipitation averaged 200 to 250 percent of average. Soil Conservation normal snowpack.s: the Virgin Basin, Service snow measurements on January 1 indicate well above Upper Sevier, 186%; Lower Sevier, 257%; Beaver, .236%.: and 149% of normal. Season~l runoff has been at record levels with the Sevier Ri,er ac Hatch 24,700 ~cre-feet, 219% of normal; Inflow Sigurd to Gunnison on the Sevier River - 73,500 acre-feet, 393%; the Sevier River ~t Gunnison 140,500 acre-feet, 435% and the Beaver River near Beaver 6,700 ~cre-feet, 209%. Reservoir storage in the Sevier Basin is well above normal with che combined contents of Otter Creek, Piute and Sevier Bridge reservoirs at 97% of capacity and 248% of average for this date. Flood potential for the spring is high, particularly in the lower Sevier basin, where flood prone low lying areas are suscepci.ble, However, che degree of flooding Inll depend on the spring weather regime. A cold, wet spring will increase the flood potential, a d~J spring with maderate temperatures will reduce the tr~eat of flooding, EASTERN UTAH: Water year 1983 was record breaking year in eastern Utah, Record flows producing extensive damage, were reported tr~oughout the Uintah Basin. In the first ,hree manths of this water year, we have had two of the three months produce record or near record precipitation. Flood potential for this spring's snowmelt is already high for eastern Utah drainages.