Salt Lake City — An urgent effort is underway to reinforce a rural Utah dam following the emergence of a 60-foot crack that unleashed water into a nearby creek, putting the 1,800 residents of a downstream city at risk.
While state and local authorities believe that the Panguitch Lake Dam is not on the brink of collapsing, residents have been advised to prepare for potential evacuation if the situation deteriorates. At a town meeting on Wednesday evening, emergency management officials distributed evacuation guidelines to reassure concerned citizens and prevent panic.
"I cannot guarantee that the emergency has been completely averted, but I am greatly encouraged by the progress we have made today," said Everett Taylor, an assistant state engineer for dam safety at the Utah Division of Water Rights, addressing residents of the southern Utah town.
According to Taylor, it will take several days to lower the reservoir below the compromised section. As of Wednesday evening, there were still 2 feet of water above the crack, and workers had already covered nearly 45 feet of the crevice with boulders.
According to Taylor, an ice sheet on the reservoir caused the top of the dam to crack and tilt downstream, resulting in water gushing through the opening. His team managed to reduce some of the pressure by cutting across the ice sheet. The ice has now moved away, and the top of the dam has returned to its original position.
During an inspection on Monday night, local officials discovered a fissure in the upper part of the dam. State authorities then made the information public on Tuesday, designating it as a level 2 breach risk. In the event of a breach, the Red Cross will assist in evacuating Panguitch, located approximately 10 miles downstream from the dam. Circleville, another small town downstream, faces a lower flood risk.
Sgt. Jacob Cox of the Utah Highway Patrol, responsible for preparing the town for evacuation, assured residents on Wednesday that they will have enough time to gather their belongings and leave safely if needed. He emphasized that the process can be orderly, with an estimated two-hour window before the town is flooded.
In case of an evacuation, sirens will be activated, and law enforcement officers will conduct door-to-door checks to ensure that everyone has left the area, stated Garfield County Sheriff Eric Houston. A nearby chapel and high school have been designated as emergency shelters.
To lower the reservoir below the crack, water is currently being released at a rate of nearly 260 cubic feet per second. Additionally, large rocks are being transported and placed on the downstream side of the dam to provide support to the structure. Fortunately, there is no rain expected until Saturday.
Historical Background of the Dam
Constructed in the late 1800s, the dam had its upper section added in the 1930s and 1940s. Taylor mentioned that there had been no prior concerns about its structural soundness, making the appearance of the crack unexpected.
Deputy State Engineer Michael Drake stated to CBS Salt Lake City affiliate KUTV that the privately owned dam is subject to annual inspections by the Division of Water Rights of the Department of Natural Resources. The most recent inspection took place in May 2023, during which the dam met all standards with no significant issues identified. Drake mentioned that officials are currently reviewing past inspection reports.
Mayor Kim Soper of Panguitch advised residents to avoid the creek that is receiving runoff from the reservoir, emphasizing that the water level is unusually high and poses a danger to children.
Mayor Soper became emotional as he recounted preparing evacuation strategies in the same gymnasium back in 2017 during a devastating wildfire that swept through southern Utah.
With unwavering confidence, Soper reassured his community that they had overcome challenges before and would do so again. "We got through that, and we're going to get through this," he declared. "It's just a different emergency."
