The evacuation notice issued for the residents of Panguitch City due to potential risks brought on by a crack in the lake's dam was lifted Friday afternoon.
The public safety notice was put into place on Tuesday, April 9, when officials upgraded the situation to a Level 2 emergency in preparation for potential dam failure.
The crack in the dam was discovered on Monday night and prompted a Flash Flood Warning issued by the National Weather Service.
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On April 12, members of Utah's Department of Public Safety announced that the initial stabilization of the dam had been completed. Ice sitting near the upstream face of the dam had also been removed. Authorities said that crews would break and remove any ice should it be blown toward the dam in the future.
Crews will continue to work to decrease the water level of the dam by releasing as much water as possible. Since controlled releases began, the water level had dropped 8 inches by Friday.
“I am confident with the results of our mitigation efforts to effectively reduce the pressure on the Panguitch Lake dam and the potential for an uncontrolled release. That work allows us to lift the evacuation notice, but I do urge people to stay prepared for this and other types of hazards,” says Garfield County Sheriff Eric Houston, Incident Commander for the Panguitch Lake incident. “I want to thank the community for their positive response, support, and patience as we have worked through this situation. I especially appreciate the communication, collaboration, and efforts provided by all of our response partners as well.”
State Route 143 was reopened to regular traffic on Friday afternoon, though certain portions will remain closed until further notice. These include North Shore Road, the area surrounding the dam, and Marilyn Bulkley Park near Panguitch City. Ice fishing is currently prohibited at the dam and recreationists are advised to use caution near Panguitch Creek.
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