Utah Gov. Spencer Cox on Thursday declared a statewide state of emergency due to “extreme drought conditions.”

“The declaration comes as snowpack peaked about three weeks early and was the lowest recorded since 1930. Currently, all 29 counties are in severe drought, with 22 counties experiencing extreme drought conditions as defined by the U.S. Drought Monitor,” a press release from Cox’s office read.

“Our snowpack provides 95% of Utah’s water supply,” Cox said.

“This winter, that supply fell far short of what Utah needs. We are now relying heavily on reservoir storage, which remains at 70% capacity thanks to careful management during wetter years. But those reserves are being drawn down faster than we’d like. I urge every Utahn to treat water as the precious resource it is,” he continued.

“Since April 1, much of Utah has seen only 50–75% of normal precipitation. More than 60% of the state is now in extreme drought. The impacts are already hitting hard. Farmers face sharply reduced water allocations, Salt Lake City has urged residents to cut outdoor water use by 20%, and major reservoirs like Lake Powell sit at critically low levels, threatening hydroelectric power and putting further strain on the entire Colorado River system,” X user ‘Massimo’ wrote.

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“The drought has also dramatically raised wildfire risk, as dry vegetation and low soil moisture turn landscapes into tinder. While summer thunderstorms may bring temporary relief, officials say they are unlikely to solve the deepening water deficit,” the post added.

More from The Salt Lake Tribune:

The governor and Utah water managers stood near the shores of Little Dell Reservoir in Salt Lake County to outline how dire conditions have become: the worst snowfall seen in generations. Record-breaking spring heat. Rural towns that will have practically no irrigation season this summer. Forestry managers bracing for a rough fire season. And the continued decline of the Great Salt Lake and Colorado River.

“We can’t bank on what Mother Nature might deliver next winter,” Cox said at a news conference Thursday. “Precipitation isn’t promised, and conservation is a choice that we can all make, and must make at this time.”

Utah’s April 1 snowpack averaged 2.7 inches of snow water equivalent, the amount of water the snow releases when it melts. That’s the lowest since 1930, the governor said. The normal snow water equivalent is around 14 inches at the start of April. In 2023, which saw record snowfall, the state had an average of 28 inches in April. Snowmelt provides almost all of the water supplies across the state, and runoff is what helps the Great Salt Lake and reservoirs rise each spring.

The statewide emergency comes amid a heated battle over a proposed hyperscale data center development backed by investor Kevin O’Leary.

Commission Votes On Controversial “Hyperscale” Data Center At Heated Meeting

A large crowd gathered at the state Capitol on Saturday to protest the proposed data center development in Box Elder County, arguing it could threaten the Great Salt Lake.

KUTV shared further:

Demonstrators called on the governor to slow approvals for the proposed Stratos project, arguing it would use too much water and move forward without enough public input.

Organizers said people traveled from across Utah to attend the rally, including residents from Box Elder County, Cache Valley, Davis County and Utah County.

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They said the proposed development could become one of the largest data center projects in the world and worried it could worsen conditions for the already struggling Great Salt Lake.

Kathleen Smith, a protester at the rally, said she believes the project is moving forward without enough transparency.

“I think this data center is being railroaded to the people of Utah,” Smith said. “I think the people of Utah, no matter where they stand politically, need to be aware of what Gov. Cox and basically the military are pushing through. They want no transparency for a data center that is twice the size of Manhattan and will be one of the world’s largest data centers.”

Organizers are also calling for independent studies on water use and environmental impacts.

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