Utah has entered a level 3 drought, which includes a reduced water season requiring a 20% reduction from annual water allocations, according to a guide on the Mountain Regional Water website.
This drought level follows reports that Utah's snowpack is at a record low and peaked three weeks early.
Because approximately 95% of the water supply in Utah comes from snowpack, water conservation remains critical. Water managers are preparing to rely on existing reservoir storage to meet summer demands.
In an undated notice, officials suggested that delaying irrigation can train grass to grow deep roots in search of spring moisture, which may help it withstand hot temperatures. The guide noted that early watering often leads to water loss through evaporation rather than absorption, and that keeping sprinklers off for a few extra weeks can save thousands of gallons of the local water supply.
The guide noted that late spring rains and snowmelt usually provide the necessary water for yards during the early season while reservoir levels are being managed.
