- Utah is entirely in drought after a record-low snowpack left the state with just 2.7 inches of snow water equivalent on April 1, compared to the usual 14 inches.
- The drought is slowing Great Salt Lake recovery, increasing evaporation risks and environmental concerns.
- Gov. Spencer Cox is urging statewide conservation, with mandatory government water-use cuts, local restrictions and heightened wildfire awareness.
As of late April, 100% of the state of Utah was in drought, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox told reporters on Thursday during his monthly news conference.
The state’s snowpack was a record low on April 1, measuring 2.7 inches of snow water equivalent, far below the typical 14-inch average for that date.
About 95% of the state’s water supply comes from snowpack.
“This is something that every Utahn needs to be aware of,” Cox said. “We are coming off the warmest winter on record by nearly three degrees.”
January, February and March in 2026 saw less precipitation than eight of the previous 10 years.
“We’ve actually had a decent water year,” Cox said. “It’s that it wasn’t cold enough for that water to turn into snow and stay in the mountains.”
He continued, “Our snowpack is a little bit like a checking account. Right now that account is essentially empty. That means that in the months ahead, we are relying heavily on our savings, which is our reservoir.”
Cox then compared 2026 to the record-breaking winter of 2023, which saw 28 inches of snow water equivalent. Heavy water years prepare the state for seasons of drought by filling up reservoirs.
Utah’s reservoirs are currently about 72% full, which is normal for spring in Utah.
How is Utah’s current drought going to affect the Great Salt Lake?
“These conditions are impacting, of course, the Great Salt Lake, which is not recovering at the pace that we need it to,” Cox said on Thursday.
Concerns that the Great Salt Lake will dry up and pose environmental harms to Utahns has drawn action from state and federal leaders. To come out of its currently-labeled “serious adverse effects” status, the Great Salt Lake needs an additional 800,000 acre-feet of water (261 billion gallons).
Warmer-than-average temperatures will likely accelerate the lake’s evaporation rate through the summer months.
The issue recently reached the attention of President Donald Trump, who then requested $1 billion as part of his annual budget proposal to Congress.
Cox referenced Trump’s funding proposal and said, “These resources would significantly help increase water flows, restore ecosystems and address challenges like invasive species and toxic dust.”
A widespread worry about the shrinking Great Salt Lake is if the exposed lake bed could hurt Utahns’ health. Researchers have discovered arsenic, mercury, PM10, PM25, PFOS and other contaminants in the lake bed. If inhaled, these particles can cause serious health issues.
However, the six functioning dust monitors in northern Utah have not detected any harmful contaminants from the lake bed, University of Utah professor Kevin Perry previously told the Deseret News.
Cox urged water conservation from every Utahn
“Even with federal support, the responsibility starts here at home with every one of us,” Cox said.
Utah’s Division of Water Resources has required all local, county and state government facilities to reduce their irrigation and indoor water use by at least 10%. Simultaneously, the department has asked local water providers to voluntarily conserve indoor and outdoor water.
In response, the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District imposed a 20% water allocation reduction. City officials in Riverdale have increased the cost of water when usage exceeds 10,000 gallons.
The governor urged Utahns to “stay informed” and “pay attention” to the guidelines issued by their local city officials and water providers.
He also urged Utahns to use common sense when lighting fires. “Utah has already experienced 115 wildfires — well ahead of normal — more than 84% of those were human-caused,” he said.
“So with that, Utah has always been a state of people who step up. We’re proud of our Utahns and things we’re able to accomplish together, whether it’s economic outlook, conserving water or preventing fires, we know that we can do all of this together,” he concluded.