Utah Governor Spencer Cox Declares Statewide Drought Emergency Amid Record Low Snowpack

Utah Governor Spencer Cox declared a statewide drought emergency, noting that all 29 counties are experiencing severe or extreme drought after an unusually warm winter left the state's snowpack at its lowest level since 1930. With about 95% of Utah’s water supply normally coming from snowpack, the shortfall has forced the state to rely on reservoir “savings,” which are presently hovering just above 70% capacity overall and around 60% when major basins are included.

The emergency declaration activates Utah’s drought response plan, opening access to federal funding and loans for farmers and ranchers, and authorizes state agencies to coordinate conservation measures. Local water districts have already imposed outdoor‑use cuts, such as a 25% surcharge in Midvale, a 20% reduction in the Weber Basin, and a halt to secondary household irrigation in Emery. Residents of Salt Lake City are urged to cut outdoor water use by 20%, and the city has set a goal of saving 10 million gallons per day. The governor emphasized that aggressive conservation across all sectors is essential to stretch the remaining water through the summer months.