Drought leaves lakes dry, could trigger firework ban

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Water levels at Utah’s reservoirs are lower than normal after a bad year for snowpack, and Gov. Spencer Cox is warning severe drought conditions could trigger water and fire restrictions and a possible ban on fireworks this year.

Cox said Thursday at his monthly news conference on PBS that state residents need to understand this could be one of the worst stretches of drought in a long time.

The poor snowpack this winter has left Utah’s reservoirs with expanding beaches and receding lakes.

At the popular Pineview Reservoir, water levels are about 18 feet below normal.