Utah drought emergency raises concerns for Box Elder water supplies, irrigation season

Box Elder News Journal's Podcast · May 27, 2026 · 5m

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox declared a statewide drought emergency Thursday as state officials warned runoff conditions in northern Utah are already trailing parts of the severe 2021 drought. The governor’s executive order states all 29 Utah counties are now in severe drought conditions, with 22 counties classified in extreme drought. The order also says statewide snowpack peaked about three weeks early at just 53% of normal and that projected water supplies around Utah range from 20% to 55% of normal. Speaking during a news conference at Little Dell Reservoir near Salt Lake City, Cox said Utah is…