The Great Salt Lake has already risen 2 feet this season, and that's even before the annual spring runoff has begun.
According to the Utah Department of Natural Resources, the lake has already risen two feet since its historic low set last November. Officials say the rise is a direct result of recent precipitation and inflows into the lake.The news is a welcome relief coming before the spring runoff has even begun, although the concern of flooding persists once the snow begins to melt.
“We want a gradual melt off during the spring that will not overwhelm our rivers and streams,” said Candice Hasenyager, director of the Division of Water Resources. “The way our snowpack melts is something our division and the Utah Division of Emergency Management is monitoring closely.”At measuring sites across the state, new records for snow water equivalent are being set.
Just over half of Utah's 47 reservoirs are below 55%, which the department says is nearly the same as last year but about 10% lower than normal for this time of year. Approximately half of the measured streams are also flowing below normal.
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