Gov. Spencer Cox declared a state of emergency Thursday, noting every county is in a state of severe or extreme drought after a dry winter marked by record warmth robbed Utah of its snowpack and left rivers and streams running low. The declaration opens the door for farmers and ranchers to tap into federal funding and loans managed by the state. It also gave state leaders another opportunity to urge homeowners to cut back on watering their lawns and replace some of their grass with less thirsty plants. … Cox said about two-thirds of residential water is used outdoors and pleaded with Utahns to stay vigilant and avoid watering too much. But he said any restrictions are a decision for local leaders and water districts, not for state officials.  

Related articles:

• KUER (Salt Lake City): Gov. Cox declares a drought emergency after Utah’s record warm, dry winter
• The Salt Lake Tribune: ‘We can’t control the weather, but we can control the tap’: Gov. Cox declares statewide emergency as Utah drought worsens
• FOX13 (Salt Lake City): Gov. Cox declares state of emergency for Utah’s drought