Gov. Cox declares state of emergency for Utah's drought

Governor Spencer Cox issued an emergency declaration for Utah due to record-warm winter temperatures and severe drought conditions across the entire state. Twenty-two of Utah's 29 counties are in "extreme" drought, with Uintah County facing "exceptional" drought. Joel Williams, director of Utah's Division of Water Resources, confirmed the severity, noting that Utah's snowpack, a primary water source, is critically low, and reservoirs are at 70% capacity.

The governor called for conservation across all sectors, emphasizing that while weather is uncontrollable, water usage can be managed. Local water districts, including Salt Lake City Public Utilities, have implemented tough restrictions; Salt Lake City is under "Stage 2" drought restrictions requiring cuts to outdoor watering and a 20% overall reduction. Director Laura Briefer urged residents to conserve to avoid "Stage 3" mandatory restrictions.

Agriculture, the largest water user, has already faced significant reductions, impacting crop yields and livestock decisions, as highlighted by Matt Hargraves of the Utah Farm Bureau. The emergency declaration will provide assistance to agricultural producers and communities. When asked about supporting "a massive data center development" amidst conservation calls, Governor Cox strongly defended farmers' conservation efforts and stated that the particular data center in question would use less water than its previous land use, thus returning water to the Great Salt Lake. Environmental groups, including the Youth Coalition for Great Salt Lake and the Audubon Society, echoed calls for immediate and widespread water conservation.