Utah Division of Water Resources

The next drought is always right around the corner in Utah, even in the middle of an especially wet year.

Record snowpack helped pull most of Utah out of drought earlier this year. But recent heat waves paired with a dry monsoon season have accelerated its return.

A future with more extreme heat in Utah could have wide-ranging effects on the state's already strained water supplies — stealing more gallons from Lake Powell through evaporation and threatening the delicate balance of this dry region’s water system.

This year’s record-breaking snowpack lifted Utah out of a severe drought. It won’t take much for it to return, though.

Founded in 1948 as a Jewish state, Israel had to find its own water. The country treats water as public property controlled by the state — there are no private water rights.

Runoff from Utah’s record snowpack could last through July, emergency officials said.

While Utah’s leaders are optimistic about the record snow and spring runoff, researchers remain concerned about the state of the lake.

Seven elk have been killed in traffic-related accidents since the beginning of February, including three crossing I-80 last Friday.

As temperatures drop heading into winter, experts say taking proper steps to winterize irrigation systems can help with water conservation efforts.

The water the state gets from monsoons doesn’t always end up in reservoirs. It’s also often muddy and full of debris.

“[The drought’s] probably not going to go away in one year, but we are in a better situation than we were this time last year,” said a state coordinator.