Cracks appear in Lake Panguitch dam
Panguitch Lake Dam is showing signs of possible dam failure. But authorities say the cracks are due to widening and do not indicate a dam failure in Panguitch, Utah. (Credit: KSTU)
A Utah dam is undergoing emergency repairs after a massive crack opened this week, allowing water to flow in.
A 60-foot-long crack has formed in the Panguitch Lake Dam in southwestern Utah, allowing excess water to flood nearby streams and pose an existential threat to the nearby towns of Panguitch and Circleville.
The crack was discovered during an inspection Monday night and made public the next day.
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Workers use heavy equipment to place rocks downstream of the cracked Panguitch Lake Dam to strengthen it in Panguitch, Utah. (Matt Cole/Utah Department of Water Rights, via AP)
Dam operators are draining the reservoir at a rate of 260 cubic feet per second to bring the water level below the area of the fissure.
Workers also piled stone about 45 feet above the downstream crack to support the integrity of the crack.
The dam is considered structurally stable and state officials say they are not expecting an emergency, but they are telling nearby residents to continue preparing for evacuation.
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A view of Panguitch Lake Dam, which is being repaired after a 60-foot crack appeared earlier this week. (Utah Department of Public Safety)
“While we cannot say that the emergency situation has been completely averted, we are very, very encouraged by the progress we have made today,” said Everett Taylor, assistant state engineer for the Utah Department of Water Rights.
A hypothetical evacuation would be announced by sirens and a coordinated door-to-door campaign by law enforcement.
“This may be an orderly thing,” said Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Jacob Cox said. “Once we receive a notification that a dam has breached or has breached, we have time, and the estimated time for floodwaters to actually inundate the town is approximately two hours.
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Law enforcement is ready to go door-to-door to ensure the safety of nearby residents in case the dam breaks. (Utah Department of Public Safety)
“We got through it and we’re going to get through it,” Panguitch Mayor Kim Soper said. “This is another emergency.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
