THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE ON SNOW ACCUMULATION AND MELT IN THE GREAT SALT LAKE BASIN FROM 2000 THROUGH 2005

Climate plays a major role in the accumulation of snowpack and resulting melt scenarios of the Great Salt Lake Basin. Prior to the 2005 water year, Utah experienced an extended period of very warm and dry conditions, threatening the water supply of the state. At the end of the 2004 water year, a drastic climatic shift brought copious snowpack and excessive runoff to Utah. This paper will analyze the differing climate of the drought years and the dramatic shift ushering in the 2005 water year.