When I got to Robinson Reservoir yesterday afternoon, I was surprised to find it full: It has not had water in it for the past couple of years. It must have benefited from the near record rainfall that we experienced during the second half of July. At the Cedar City Airport, the National Weather Service recorded 3.51 inches of water between July 13th and the end of the month. It was the third highest July total since WWII. But, the other obvious thing about this view is that most of the white fir on the slope above the lake has been killed by the double whammy of drought and fir engraver (close up view below). So, which is it, are we in a drought or a flood? Well, for the past two water years, we should have accumulated a total of about 20.5 inches of moisture. We are currently at around 13.7 inches. I don't think the ecosystem has been fooled: The drought remains.
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