March is typically a wet month, with about 2/3 of an inch of precipitation falling in the form of rain and/or snow in the Price area. But it would take an extremely wet month to bring precipitation totals up to average this year.
According to the National Integrated Drought Information System, abnormal dryness or drought are affecting 2,764,000 people in Utah.
More than 90 percent of the state is in a moderate drought, with a severe drought designated for much of eastern Utah. Statistics compiled by the National Resources Conservation Service show the year-to-date precipitation in the Price/San Rafael River Basin stands at 57 percent of average for the water year that began on October 1, 2017.
The snow pack in the mountains, as measured at 11 SNOTEL sites in the mountains of the Price/San Rafael River Basin is just 47 percent of the median, compared to 163 percent at this time last year.
Stream flow forecasts for the Price and San Rafael River Basin are currently predicted to range from 25 percent of average on the White River below Tabbyune Creek, to 60 percent on the Green River near the Town of Green River. The flow in the Price River near Scofield Reservoir is forecast to be 29 percent of average.
Reservoirs still at high levels
During the unusually wet winter of 2016-2017 area reservoirs were filled to capacity, and many remain at above-average levels for this time of year.
As of March 1, Huntington North Reservoir was 126 percent of capacity, compared to 88 percent at this time last year. The average percent of capacity for this time of year is 79 percent.
Scofield Reservoir was measured at 78 percent of capacity, compared to only 25 percent last year. The average percent of capacity on March 1 is 47 percent.
While Joes Valley Reservoir was only 50 percent full at this time last year, the reservoir is currently at 74 percent of capacity. The average is 65 percent.
The one other reservoir for which statistics are provided is Millsite Reservoir which has been undergoing extensive renovation on the dam and is currently at only 7 percent of capacity, compared to 65 percent last year.
Drought conditions at 90 percent
Scofield Dam, pictured above, holds back water for Scofield Reservoir, which is at 78 percent capacity.