May 2026: Salt Lake County: Snowpack in the Wasatch Canyons

April was a month of cooler weather and much-needed precipitation in the canyon areas. While we’re always grateful to see snow added to our snowpack, this late-season boost wasn’t enough to make up for a below-average winter. We are entering the warmer months with less water than usual due to low snowfall.

From a Canyons Management perspective, it’s worth stepping back to understand a key question: 

Where does our water come from, and how does mountain snow become the water in our homes? 

While the full answer is complex, spanning various areas of scientific research, geographic boundaries, and local jurisdictions, one fact stands out: 60% of the water coming out of our faucets for the east side of Salt Lake County begins as the snow in our mountains.

Where Does Salt Lake County’s Water Come From?

A watershed refers to an area of land where water all funnels into a final stream or lake. For the Wasatch Canyons, the words “protected watershed” refer to canyon areas where water is carefully managed because it ultimately becomes drinking water. For Salt Lake County, these specific canyons are City Creek Canyon, Parley’s Canyon, Big Cottonwood Canyon, and Little Cottonwood Canyon.

As the snow melts in these canyons, the resulting streams moves water down to water treatment facilities, and from there it is transferred homes.

Why Protected Watersheds Matter

Protection of this water from contaminants is of crucial importance to the health of this watershed and those who drink the water. That’s why activities like bringing dogs into certain watershed areas or swimming in reservoirs are restricted. While water can be purified to some extent in treatment faculties, its far easier to keep it clean than try to remove contaminates.

One of the most striking facts is how quickly this system works: In some cases, the water coming out of your faucet could have been snow just 17 hours earlier, depending on the time of year.

Yes! We are drinking water that was snow not that long ago. Salt Lake City Public Utilities has a phenomenal website that breaks down this information even farther.

For those in the western and southern parts of the county, water sources are more varied but still includes snowmelt from the Oquirrh Mountains. Stay tuned for future blogs with more information about the Oquirrh Front.

For now, we’ll continue to appreciate every bit of precipitation, conserve water where we can, and enjoy the streams coming from our canyons with extra appreciation.

This Month in the Canyon:

Learn more about current conditions and conservation strategies from Salt Lake County Environmental Sustainability and Salt Lake County Watershed Planning and Restoration.

Are any ski resorts still open for this season?

As the snow melts, resorts are closing down. However, there are a few resorts that continue to remain open. Check out Ski Utah for the most updated list. 

Future Transportation in the Canyons

Transportation in our canyons is an ongoing and important conversation. Efforts are underway for future improvements, and Salt Lake County is actively involved in coordinating these discussions. 

In Big Cottonwood Canyon, proposed changes focus on practical improvements that could make a meaningful difference in how people access and move through the canyon. We invite you to review the draft materials on the project webpage and learn more about what’s being considered.

Trying to understand our snowpack?

Our snowpack is different this year, check out this Natural Resources Conservation Service resource to understand exactly how different by comparing it to previous years, all the way back to 1990.

What are plans for the Trails in the Tri-Canyons?

While transportation is an important topic, so is the future of our trails. Fortunately, the U.S. Forest Service and Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation are on top of this work, and have recently published a Tri Canyon Trail Plan. With great plans like this, great trail developments will follow (in fact, the first improvements are already underway!) 

Have a picnic!

Yep, you heard it right, Main and South Box Elder picnic sites within Mill Creek Canyon are open. It’s a great time to enjoy spring conditions, wildflowers, and wildlife.