I recently moved to Heber City from the Midwest and have been watching the water levels on both Deer Creek and Jordanelle as the snow has been melting.It seems Deer Creek has risen quite a bit but I don't see any significant change in water levels on Jordanelle.Is this something that the state is doing intentionally?I'm just curious why both reservoirs aren't seeing rising water levels.Thanks in advance for any explanations.
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When ever there is a big warm up in air temps, the snow starts melting and thats what it takes to get the water levels to rise. We have had some warming temps but unless we get sustained higher temps you won't see too much increase in water levels this early in the year. Next month that will change but I think its a little too early, right now. Remember, here is Utah, because we don't have any big rivers, at least on this side of the state, the mountains are what hold all out water in the form of snow. If we get too much heat, like we did last year, too early, that snow pack melts and when it comes down too quick, it is wasted. So it is good to a get gradual increases in temps, the land is better able to absorb it and it does not go to waste. There is more to it than that but you get point, I'm sure.
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[#0000FF]As part the "system" of water management, they usually allow Deer Creek to fill first. They keep Jordanelle low until the last flush of runoff. Then the lake can fill in a couple of weeks. That is when the smallmouth do their spawn, the water warms up and fishing gets much better...for a while.
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It seems like the have a set flow for the middle section of the Provo River for the fishery.
If you look at the trends for the past several years you will notice that as soon as the water season ends Deer Creek starts to rise and will fill all winter while Jordanelle drops all winter.
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They are running a minimum of water out of Deer Creek to sustain the fish down river yet store as much water as possible. When irrigation begins in North Utah County and Salt Lake Valley the flow out of Deer Creek will increase. Jordanelle is a main factor for controlling spring run off. Deer Creek is almost full so Jordanelle can store most of the spring run off. It is a win win for both reservoirs.
Silver Eagle
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