Effect of current drought upon water supplies in Cedar City Valley, Utah

The ground water in the pumping district in Cedar City Valley, Utah is considered by the Utah State Engineer to be fully appropriated, and he has not authorized drilling of irrigation wells there since 1942 except as replacements for wells having established rights. In spite of this regulation, the water levels in representative wells in 1954 were the lowest of record, and four to ten feet lower than the minima recorded during the drought of the 1930's. This recession is attributed in large part to the current drought in the southwestern United States. In the five years ended October 1, 1954, precipitation at Cedar City was markedly less than in any other five‐year period in the past 50 years, and stream runoff was likewise far below average. Ground‐water withdrawal has exceeded replenishment in these drought years, but it cannot yet be concluded that the ground‐water resources are overdeveloped in the sense that pumpage exceeds the long‐term average replenishment to the reservoir.