(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Limited snowfall has led to a diminished snowpack as low accumulations can be seen at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon where south facing slopes are showing bare spots. Already in the grip of a stubborn drought, Utah is facing a bleak water year with snow accumulations in Big Cottonwood Canyon and across the state far below normal. A hydrological monitoring station at Brighton measured just five inches of water in the snowpack, nearly half what would normally be there at the start of the new year.
Brian Maffly has worked for The Tribune off and on since 1994. Maffly roams Utah, covering public land and environment.