Salt Lake Telegram | 1952-03-01 | Page 9 | Engineers Forecast Heavy Flooding Along Jordan River

Engineers Forecast Heavy Flooding Along Jordan River Utah Lake Level Stands at Peak Peale With Spring Runoff Yet to Come PROVO Special Special Extensive Extensive flooding along Jordan River this spring was predicted here Saturday Saturday Saturday Satur Satur- day in a report issued by Hugo Price Utah County engineer and David I I. I Gardiner engineer rep rep- resenting Salt Lake County in In- The engineers noted that Utah Lake waters now stand as high as the peak level last year and that by May lay at least second feet of uncontrolled water than is now being spilled will pour into Jordan River Above Compromise In our study tudy of past Utah Lake records computing on a basis of inflow it is our opinion that Utah Lake by June 1 could reach an elevation of 90 feet above compromise level the report said Compromise level is the point set in the Hatch decree nearly a century ago and agreed upon by users of the lake water and farmers surrounding the lake The report showed ved that at the lakes lake's highest level this spring second feet of water would pour through Jordan Narrows only second feet of which normally would be diverted until after irrigation begins about May 1 After that period practically the entire quantity could be used for irrigation however Jordan River Discharge The Jordan River is now discharging discharging discharging dis dis- charging second feet and portions portions portions por por- of the Jordan ordan flood plain are already under water To drain utah Utah Lake the engineers engineers engineers engi engi- noted that pumps at Jordan River could be operated to discharge discharge discharge dis dis- charge as high as second feet it would further further further fur fur- of water however ther complicate the flood situation situation situation situa situa- tion along th th Jordan Although the thc engineers were advised that neither Utah nor Salt Lake County could legally attempt such an operation s a private group of individuals could operate the pumps for about per month Such an operation operation operation oper oper- would H reduce the elevation elevation elevation eleva eleva- tion of Utah Lake only about four inches at the end of the three three- month period they said