Utah officials work to shore up rural dam after 60-foot crack opens

Authorities are taking emergency measures to secure the Panguitch Lake Dam in rural Utah after a 60-foot crack opened, allowing water to pour into a creek and posing a threat to the downstream town of Panguitch, where 1,700 residents live.

Officials do not believe the dam is on the brink of breaking, but they have warned residents to be ready for potential evacuation should the situation deteriorate. The process of lowering the reservoir to a level below the affected area is expected to take several days, according to Everett Taylor, an assistant state engineer from the Utah Division of Water Rights.

As of Wednesday evening, April 10th, approximately 2 feet of water remained above the crack. To address the issue, workers have covered nearly 45 feet of the crack with boulders, and efforts are underway to relieve the pressure from an ice sheet pushing against the dam, which caused the crack to develop and tilt downstream.

Community Meeting and Risk Assessment

A community meeting was scheduled to provide updates and address questions from Panguitch residents. The nearby town of Circleville, located farther downstream, faces a lower risk. The crack was discovered during an inspection on Monday, and state officials made the information public on Tuesday.

Authorities are currently releasing water from the reservoir at a rate of nearly 260 cubic feet per second to decrease the water level below the crack. Additionally, large rocks are being transported and placed on the downstream side of the dam to reinforce its structure against the force of the water. Fortunately, no rain is forecast until Saturday, providing a window to stabilize the situation.

Historical Background and Risk Assessment

The Panguitch Lake Dam, constructed in the late 1800s with additional modifications made in the 1930s and 1940s, was previously not a cause for concern regarding its structural integrity. The sudden emergence of the crack caught officials off guard. The current risk level has been designated as a level 2 breach risk, indicating potential for dam failure.

State officials are concentrating efforts on drawing down the reservoir, preventing the ice from directly impacting the dam and providing support to the downstream side of the structure. However, officials remain optimistic about the progress being made to stabilize the situation.