OCR Text |
Show Water Supply Forecast Near Normal For Region Erratic precipitation over the southern portion of the state during March resulted in a variation of accumulations, but figures compiled by the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City indicates the April-September strcamflow of the Sevier River to be slightly above the 15-year average for 1975. The report, issued by Robert J. Theisen, hydrologist in charge, states snow surveys conducted by the Soil Conservation Service in the Sevier and Beaver river basins in-' dicated near to above average water content. Residual, April through ,. September streamflow , forecasts are generally near to slightly above normal on the j Sevier River with the exception of Sigurd to Gunnison , streamflow which is forecast at 125-percent of average. :" Actual precipitation in the I southern part of the state for March was generally below the 1 state's average, ranging from ' 50 to 80-percent of average in J the Wayne County area, to up to 150-percent in the Sevier River Valley from Panguitch to Salina. The report showed the precipitation for the water year since Oct. 1, to be only 50 to 80 percent in the area from Richfield north into Sanpete County, and from 80 to 120-percent of average from Marysvale south to Panguitch. Most other areas of southern Utah showed precipitation for the period to be greater than 150-percent of average. The Sevier River streamflow forecast, based on present snow surveys, reservoir storage and the assumption that a near normal precipitation pattern will continue through the year, shows the following: At Hatch, 52,000 acre feet, 104-percent of average; near Kingston, 28,000 acre feet, 109-percent; Piute Reservoir inflow, 46,000 acre feet, 105-percent; inflow, Sigurd to Gunnison, 40,000 acre feet, 125-percent. The East Fork Sevier River near Kingston is forecast at 18,600 acre feet for 104-percent of average. Clear Creek, near Sevier, is forecast at 13,800 feet for the April-June period, which is 106-percent of average. The three major reservoirs on the river system showed an average storage of 120-percent of average as of April 1. Piute Reservoir, with a usable capacity of 71,800 acre feet, had 46,700 acre feet of storage for 100-percent of average; Otter Creek, with 52,500 acre feet of usable storage, had 36,200 acre feet, for 107-percent of average, and Sevier Bridge, with 236,000 acre feet of usable storage, had 178,700 acre feet for 154-percent of average. |