ST. GEORGE — The improving situation with Panguitch Lake Dam has prompted the National Weather Service to lift the flash flood watch that had been in effect for portions of Southern Utah.
“Dam operators and Garfield County officials have reported that progress has been made to stabilize the Panguitch Lake Dam,” according to a weather service news release. “As a result, the potential for dam failure has decreased.”
As previously reported, Garfield County, Panguitch City and Utah Department of Public Safety officials announced Wednesday that the issue with the dam was first noticed by members of the West Panguitch Irrigation and Reservoir Company.
“Crews inspected the dam and found that due to high water levels and ice pressure, a 2-5-foot expansion section of the Panguitch Lake Dam has started to tilt as well as developed some cracking, causing concern that the top 2-5 feet of the dam section could be compromised,” the news release stated.
Wednesday night, however, state and local officials said ongoing mitigation efforts addressing issues with the Panguitch Lake dam appear to be working well thus far.
Speaking to an estimated crowd of more than 300 people who attended a town hall meeting at Panguitch High School on Wednesday night, Panguitch Mayor Kim Soper said he’s been “overwhelmed” by the amount of support that’s been offered from neighboring communities.
The weather service, however, reminds residents in areas below the dam, including the city of Panguitch, to remain in a “heightened condition of readiness and stay informed should situations change.”
“Please continue to heed remaining closures,” the news release said. “In addition, Panguitch Creek is running high, fast, and cold due to controlled releases to lower the lake level. Keep children and pets away from Panguitch
Creek.”