OCR Text |
Show Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, April 1-4, 2017 The Park Record COUNTY SEAT A-5 Helping you is what we do best. Put our experience to work for you. COUNTY EDITOR: ANGELIQUE McNAUGHTON 649-9014 EXT. 112 | Countynews@parkrecord.com Historic snowpack melting Operators of dams and reservoirs prepare for runoff ANGELIQUE MCNAUGHTON 1333 Snow Berry Street | Glenwild | Park City, Ut The Park Record As rain and rising temperatures begin to melt the record-breaking snowpack in the Uinta and Wasatch Mountains, operators of the area’s dams and reservoirs say they are prepared to safely manage the spring runoff. After water breached an emergency spillway at Lake Orville in California in February causing large-scale evacuations, Summit County Emergency Manager Chris Crowley said he wondered about the county’s safety and reached out to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which operates more than 300 reservoirs and 50 hydroelectric plants in the Western United States. “We all have to be concerned about rain, flooding, fast rising water and, of course, the safety of our dams,” Crowley said. “We certainly have our share of floods or potential for them. While we don’t have any right now, I have to be proactive and make sure that we are in communication with all of the agencies that manage our resources or have the capability of responding and keeping our community safe.” The Provo Area Office of the Bureau of Reclamation, which oversees the Upper Colorado Basin, manages 25 dams, including Echo, East Canyon, Moon Lake, Upper Stillwater and Rockport, and two power plants. According to the Bureau of Reclamation, most of the reservoirs located in the Wasatch Front and Uinta River Basins are already measuring more than 50 percent full. The reclamation website shows the snowpack in the Wasatch and Uinta Mountains 5 Beds : 7 Baths : 8,118 Sq Ft : $3,990,000 : 1333Snowberryst.com COURTESY OF U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF RECLAMATION RAMON GOMEZ, JR. The diagram shown represents the water level of fill in the reservoirs of the Wasatch Front River Basins. As of March 28, most are measuring nearly 50 percent of capacity or more. 435-640-0590 ramon@rgomezjr.com JUDY GOMEZ 435-640-5484 judy@rgomezjr.com is still measuring more than 150 percent of normal. “This is a year that has nothing average about it and that causes us concerns because all of that water has to come down at some point,” said Wayne Pullan, Provo Office manager. Pullan said the snowpack historically gradually builds until around the end of April before it starts to melt, typically tapering off around early July. However, he said early warm temperatures brought a significant portion of the snowpack down in early March. “But then it started to rain again so we have actually seen it build back up at the upper elevations,” Pullan said. “This will be one of those years we talk about in the future. It’s been a big water year and an anomaly.” When managing the spring runoff, Pullan said the Bureau of Reclamation has two objectives: to store as much water as possible and bring down the snowpack with minimal damage and risk for flooding. “Those are the objectives, but there are multiple variables that we have to factor in, such as how much water is up there in the snowpack and how much capacity we have to store that water in our reservoirs,” Pullan said. “We have to balance all of those variables, while doing our best to store as much water as we can and pass the runoff with minimal amount of trouble. “To do that, you have to be hypervigilant in making sure what is coming next and making sure our facilities are operating in a safe manner,” he said. Annual reviews are completed at each facility, in addition to more comprehensive examinations every eight years, Pullan said. He added, “As time goes by, engineering gets better and we better understand the risks.” Most of the state’s dams were built between the 1930s and 1960s. Less than five years ago, a large berm was installed and the spillway was reconstructed at Echo Reservoir to meet current and seismic standards, Pullan said. More than a dozen similar projects have also been completed on other dams in the last several years. The Bureau of Reclamation, along with the help of local emergency management personnel and law enforcement officials, has created emergency action plans for each of the facilities it manages. If flows are expected to exceed the safe channel capacity Please see Spring runoff, A-6 DON’T MISS THIS LIFT © 2017 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Equal Housing Opportunity. Information not verified or guaranteed. 50 ©2017 Del Taco LLC DTL-14400 PRICE AND PARTICIPATION MAY VARY. SINGLE ITEM PRICE ON MENU BOARD DTL-14400_Park_Record_Shrimp_Tacos_F.indd 1 2/2/17 9:47 AM Discover this intimate collection of modern residences adjacent to the Sunrise chairlift, steps from intriguing boutiques and sunny après patios, with a one-of-a-kind pool deck overlooking Retreat ski-home trail. Lift is already 85% reserved, and ownership is now on a first-come, first-served reservation basis. Don’t miss your final opportunity. FULLY FURNISHED RESIDENCES STARTING AT $610,000 Please visit the Canyons Village Sales Gallery or call 435.659.8993 liftparkcity.com Lift residences are not currently being offered for sale. Reservations are expressions of interest only and may not result in a binding agreement for purchase once residences are offered for sale. All renderings and illustrative maps are conceptual only and subject to change. Amenities shown in renderings and illustrative maps are proposed, have not received county approval and may not occur. © 2016 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Home Services of America, Inc.® Equal Housing Opportunity. Information not verified or guaranteed. If your home is currently listed with a Broker, this is not intended as a solicitation. Errors & omissions excepted. |