WSP02173

• File Number: 8210.137
• Description: Colorado River Basin-Colorado River Basin Organizations/Entities-Colorado River Forecast Committee
• State: UT
• Date: 4/1/1984
• Author: NOAA
• Title: Water Supply Outlook for Utah
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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as of April 1, 1984

WATER SUPPLY OUTLOOK FOR UTAH

NORTHERN UTAH: Water supply forecasts on April 1, varied only slightly from
those issued last month. Forecasts remain well above normal ranging from over
250 percent of normal on the inflow to Utah Lake to 122 percent on the Logan
River near Logan.

March precipitation was generally near normal along the Wasatch Front but
decreased over the central Bear River drainage to 22 percent at Woodruff.

Seasonal precipitation remains well above normal over most of Northern. Utah.
Davis, Weber, Cache and portions of Box Elder and Utah Counties all received
in excess of 150 percent of the normal October-March amount. The remainder of
the. area was 110 to 150 percent of average.

Observed March streamflow throughout northern Utah continues to run above
normal. Runoff on the Weber River near Oakley was 138 percent; Big Cottonwood
Creek near Salt Lake City - 131 percent; Logan River at Logan - 129 percent
and Blacksmiths Fork near Hyrum - 161 percent.

Reservoir storages throughout northern Utah are generally below the April 1
normal, and in many cases significantly below last years April 1 contents.

Snow surveys conducted on April 1 indicate
over Northern Utah: Bear River drainage -
Weber - 135%; Jordan - 128%; Provo - 129%.

the snowpack is well above normal
127%; Logan - 119%; Ogden - 153%;

The elevation of the Great Salt Lake on April 1 was 4207.35 feet I~L. This is
a rise of 0.65 since March 1 and is 3.05 feet higher than the low point of
4204.30 feet which occurred on September 22, 1983. During the record year of
1983, the Great Salt Lake rose 1.80 feet from April 1 to the peak on July 1.
Assuming normal hydrometeorological conditions for the remainder of this spring,
the Great Salt Lake is expected to rise another 1.00-1.50 .feet to a level of
4208.00 to 4209.00 feet by early summer.

The April 1 reading of the Utah Lake at the Lehi Pumping Plant gage was 3.40
feet above compromise. This is a rise of 0.20 feet since March 1st and is
1.00 foot higher than a year ago at this time. Inflow to Utah Lake during
March waS 128,500 acre-feet, 185 percent of normal. March Outflow was 96,000
acre-feet, over seven times normal. Utah Lake is expected to rise to 5.00 -
6.00 feet above compromise late this spring.

Flood potential for this spring continues to look threatening. April through
July forecasts indicate volumetric amounts are only slightly less than those
received last year. Spring weather conditions will playa significant role in
how severe the flooding will be. If northern Utah has a cool, wet spring
similar to last year, runoff conditions will be extremely critical. But if

NOAA - NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
Colorado Basin River Forecast Center. Salt Lake City, Utah
Gerald Williams, Hydrologist-in-Charge