On Monday, April 8, West Panguitch Irrigation Company employees discovered cracking and leaking along Panguitch Lake Dam.
From left to right:
The transverse crack in the dam is releasing water - authorities are monitoring and responding to the situation hoping to prevent full dam failure. Photo courtesy of Utah Department of Natural Resources.
The Garfield Sheriff’s Office released this map as a reference for evacuation plans and high-risk areas.
Local authorities began emergency response measures, including notifying locals of a possible evacuation, per a statement from the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO): “On April 8, 2024, it was discovered that the Panguitch Lake Dam had sustained damage resulting in transverse cracking on the upper portion of the Dam. The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with local Emergency Management, Panguitch City and West Panguitch Irrigation Company are currently monitoring the conditions. As a precaution, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office has closed Highway 143 and will limit all access to Panguitch Lake. Highway 143 will remain open above Panguitch Lake. The damage to the Dam is not severe enough to warrant immediate evacuations. Emergency personnel are stationed at the Dam and will closely monitor the condition. If conditions worsen, emergency notification will be made through all available resources.”
The GCSO released a Level 2 emergency alert, along with evacuation protocols in case evacuation became necessary, stating, “A Level 2 Emergency Situation indicates that there is a potential for dam failure. While there is no immediate threat to public safety, the situation could rapidly evolve … it is crucial that residents of Panguitch and surrounding areas be prepared for a possible evacuation should we reach a Level 3 situation, which would indicate imminent dam failure.” The recommended preparation steps included: Stay Informed, via official channels; have an Evacuation Plan, by familiarizing yourself with evacuation routes (east toward Hatch in Panguitch’s case); have an Emergency Kit, with food, water, medication and important documents; and Inform Others by taking time to inform family friends and neighbors.
According to the Utah Department of Natural Resources, Panguitch Irrigation is releasing water from the reservoir to lower pressure on the dam and reduce the risk of a break.
The GCSO recommended Alertsense as a good option for real time notifications and alerts in addition to keeping their social media and their own website updated as quickly as possible. As of the writing of this report, the situation remained at Level 2, meaning no evacuation had begun yet.
