Salt Lake City (June 25, 2025) – In arid Utah, drought is not an unexpected event — it’s part of the climate rhythm. Utah has faced drought conditions in parts of the state during 22 of the past 25 years. Given its large geographic area and diverse climate, it’s more common to be dealing with drought somewhere in the state than not. With one of the driest climates in the nation (and a rapidly growing population), our state walks a fine line between availability and demand. Whether we’re in a drought or preparing for the next one, the consequences stretch far beyond water levels. Drought reshapes ecosystems, economies, communities and natural wonders across the state.
Water supply: built on snowpack and buffered by reservoirs
More than 95% of Utah’s water supply starts as snow. The snowpack in our mountains acts like a natural savings account, slowly melting and releasing water each spring to feed rivers, lakes and reservoirs. When snowpack is low, that account runs dry, affecting everything downstream.
Reservoirs serve as a critical buffer, storing water during wet years to carry us through dry ones. But during extended droughts, reservoir levels can drop dramatically, limiting water available for homes, farms and the environment. In recent years, some of Utah’s reservoirs have fallen to historically low levels, exposing how vulnerable our supply system can be.
Drought reveals the cracks in this system, stressing the importance of conservation, watershed health and smart infrastructure that can stretch every drop.
Our engineers and other professionals within the Utah Division of Water Resources work hard to fulfill the mission of developing, protecting, planning and conserving the state’s water resources through its programs.
Water availability and use: mitigating the effects of shortages
Under Utah law, all water is considered public property. To protect this resource, the Utah State Engineer — who also serves as the director of the Utah Division of Water Rights — manages and administers water rights, approves beneficial use and enforces rules according to Utah water law. This authority is especially important when water availability drops, and the need for fair and efficient allocation to balance the needs of food production, communities and ecosystems intensifies.
During a drought, the Utah Division of Water Rights implements thoughtful administrative practices to help ease the impact of water shortages, including:
- Monitoring and adjusting water allocations. Water commissioners (who are appointed by the State Engineer to oversee the day-to-day delivery of water in their respective distribution systems) ensure that limited water resources are apportioned fairly and in line with legal entitlements. They also enforce limits and adjust allocations to reflect limited supply.
- Implementing drought contingency plans. Many water users, including irrigation companies and public water suppliers, have plans that outline specific actions they will take to reduce water use during drought. Such actions include mandatory cutbacks or shifts in operational schedules.
- Adjusting water rights. Upon request, the State Engineer can process change applications under Utah Code 73-3-8, which allows water users to adapt their rights to suit shifting drought impacts.
Wildlife at risk: shrinking habitats and scarce resources
Drought hits ecosystems hard. It has wide-reaching impacts on Utah’s wildlife and fish, often reducing food and water availability and pushing animals into urban areas in search of resources.
For big game like deer, drought can lower birth and survival rates, reduce antler growth and shrink overall populations. Pregnant does and newborn fawns are particularly vulnerable when forage is scarce. While it may seem helpful to feed wildlife, doing so can cause harm by making animals too comfortable around people or by attracting predators. The best way to support wildlife during drought is to let them remain wild and report any animals that appear sick, injured or aggressive to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
Fish also suffer during drought because of lower water levels, higher temperatures and reduced oxygen in lakes and streams. Trout in lower elevations are especially at risk. Anglers can help by fishing early in the day when temperatures are cool and releasing fish in deeper, cooler water. Our biologists with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources actively work to monitor and mitigate drought impacts by tracking range conditions, observing species competition (especially between elk and deer) and watching for effects on agricultural lands. Learn more about those efforts at their website.
Agriculture under pressure: the economic and ecological toll
Utah’s agricultural sector is a critical component of the state’s economy and regional food supply chain. However, persistent drought and limited water availability place immense strain on farms and ranches that rely on stable irrigation and grazing resources. Reduced water allocations can force producers to fallow fields, shift growing practices, purchase expensive supplemental feed or reduce herd sizes, all of which carry significant economic consequences.
To address these challenges, the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food administers the Agricultural Water Optimization Program, which supports producers in adopting more efficient irrigation systems, precision scheduling tools and soil health practices. These investments are essential for maintaining agricultural productivity during drought while helping producers adapt to long-term water constraints.
Sustaining agriculture through drought isn’t just about protecting individual farms. It’s about safeguarding a reliable food supply, preserving local processing capacity and maintaining economic stability in rural communities. The department is also working to strengthen processing infrastructure, expand technical assistance and support research into drought-resilient practices that will ensure Utah agriculture remains viable and responsive to a changing climate.
Wildfire threats: drier landscapes, longer seasons
As drought dries out vegetation, Utah’s landscapes become primed for wildfire. Hotter temperatures, earlier snowmelt and longer dry periods are extending fire seasons and increasing their intensity. These fires threaten homes, forests, watersheds and air quality.
Post-fire landscapes also struggle to recover, often leading to erosion, sedimentation in reservoirs and degraded water supplies. A proactive approach — thinning overgrown forests, utilizing targeted livestock grazing to reduce catastrophic wildfire fuel loads, restoring fire-resilient ecosystems and building community readiness — is essential to mitigating these risks. Our staff with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands works to protect homes and communities through proactive fuel mitigation work and raising awareness on how our behaviors can impact whether or not a wildfire starts.
Recreation takes a hit: less water, fewer options
Water is a major part of Utah’s outdoor lifestyle. When drought hits, lakes shrink, rivers slow and recreation suffers. Low flows mean canceled rafting trips and poor fishing conditions. Empty reservoirs can close boat ramps and reduce camping opportunities. Even ski seasons and winter motorized recreation are impacted by low snow years.
This isn’t just about recreation — it’s about economy and quality of life. Outdoor recreation generates over $9.5 billion annually for Utah’s economy. Protecting water-based recreation through wise use and investment ensures these experiences endure. Our staff, with the Utah divisions of Outdoor Recreation and State Parks, maintains and provides information about many of the recreational areas and parks throughout our state.
Energy and water: an interconnected relationship
Energy and water are mutually dependent resources. It takes water to generate power, and it takes power to manage our water resources. Utah is working on creating energy abundance for the entire state. The resources we bring online to meet energy demand will need to be aggressively water-efficient. The investment and pursuit of new technologies will be crucial to protecting our water supply while also keeping energy reliable and affordable for all Utahns.
Great Salt Lake: a barometer for drought’s reach
No single place reflects the cumulative effects of drought quite like Great Salt Lake. Fed by rivers that support agriculture, municipal use and other water needs, the lake has been shrinking for years. As it declines, so does its ability to support millions of birds, regulate dust and sustain nearby industries.
Protecting the lake requires upstream solutions. Reducing diversions, improving water efficiency and preserving inflows are essential to long-term sustainability. It’s a challenge and a commitment.
Several divisions within the Utah Department of Natural Resources are working with partners — and coordinating closely with the Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner — to better understand the lake and identify real, lasting solutions.
At the forefront is the Utah Division of Water Resources, leading the Great Salt Lake Basin Integrated Plan — a comprehensive effort to support smarter, more holistic water management across the basin.
The plan brings together existing tools and data to analyze supply, demand and trade-offs across each river basin, helping guide decisions that balance ecological, agricultural and community water needs.Learn more about collaborative efforts happening to protect the lake.
A call for proactive stewardship
In Utah, drought isn’t a matter of if — it’s when. Its effects are interconnected, impacting wildlife, agriculture, wildfires, recreation and more. At its core, it’s about the health of our environment, the resiliency of our food supply, the strength of our communities and the future we want to build. We’ve made progress through smart legislation, personal choices and waterwise practices like native landscaping. But to truly protect Utah’s future, we must continue to plan, conserve, invest and adapt. How we act today will shape the legacy we leave tomorrow.
Things you can do to help:
- Be mindful of your water use
- Replace unused grass with waterwise options
- Stay informed about local water supply and drought conditions
- Advocate for long-term water planning and conservation efforts
- Vote for measures and leaders that prioritize sustainable water use
- Participate in local conservation and restoration efforts
- Tell your friends and neighbors what you’ve learned about Utah’s water situation