UTAH'S FLOOD WATCH

Crews, regulars watch and wait as waters rise at Murray City Park

May 18, 2023, 10:38 PM | Updated: May 19, 2023, 6:45 am

MURRAY, Utah — Crews and regulars alike were watching Little Cottonwood Creek closely Thursday as waters continued to rise at Murray City Park.

Street superintendent Lynn Potter said workers had already removed three pedestrian bridges and had sandbagged vulnerable areas.

On Thursday evening, water was lapping up against the bottom of a larger bridge for vehicle traffic in the center of the park.

“Yesterday it was probably a foot below that,” said park regular Eric Gerrard. “Our marker was to wait for it to hit the bridge and today is the first day it’s doing that.”

Potter said crews were hoping to keep the road open.

“If it comes over the bridge, it’ll also wash out into the parking lot,” Potter said. “We usually have to close this road off.”

Potter said the creek in the area was currently flowing at 420 cubic feet per second, still 200 CFS below where water has been known to spread to grassy areas and well below the 800 CFS known to cause wider-spread flooding.

Though he said crews had prepared as much as possible for what the coming weeks will bring, Potter acknowledged outcomes at the park were also dependent on a measure of luck following an “unprecedented” snow year in the mountains.

“Nineties — we hope we don’t get to the 90s,” Potter said. “Really at the current temperature where you’d have problems is if you’re running high CFSs in the river and then you get a heavy rainstorm and then there’s nowhere for that water to go. That could be an issue.”

Murray City Park is considered a floodplain, and crews also hoped to avoid any outcomes like those seen in the area more than a decade ago.

“This was all underwater here too — the parking lot, that whole playground behind us,” Gerrard said.

Potter said it could be well after Memorial Day before crews find out how much flooding the park will see. He urged people — children and adults alike — to keep a safe distance from the high and fast-moving creek.

“Safety’s the top priority so that’s our biggest concern,” Potter said. “We’ve got signs up along the river, ‘swift water, stay back’ — stay away from it.”

KSL 5 TV Live

Utah's Flood Watch

Utah Lake water release...

Alex Cabrero

Utah Lake release sends 300 million gallons of water a day into the Great Salt Lake

The Utah Lake control gates in Saratoga Springs opened Thursday morning to release water into the Great Salt Lake.

2 months ago

(KSL TV)...

Mike Anderson

Tons of sediment cleared from Logan River to protect power generators

Tons of sediment is being pulled from the Logan River as part of a project to clean up power generators.

3 months ago

Crews work on flood mitigation in Eagle Mountain...

Brittany Tait

Eagle Mountain’s project to reduce flooding threat

After an unseasonably rainy spring, certain neighborhoods in Eagle Mountain witnessed multiple floods. 

6 months ago

A man skateboards with an umbrella as it rains in Salt Lake City on Aug. 22. Utah water officials s...

Carter Williams, KSL.com

How impactful have this year’s monsoons been for Utah’s water supply?

Utah's monsoon season is slowly winding down, but not before leaving an impact on Utah's reservoirs in various ways.

7 months ago

A line of storms rolls through Salt Lake Valley on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. (Spenser Heaps/ Deseret...

Carter Williams, KSL.com

Flood watches, wind advisories issued as Hilary’s remnants eke past Utah

Several flood and high wind advisories remain in effect throughout Utah most of Monday, and even into Tuesday, as the remnants of Hurricane Hilary move through parts of Utah.

7 months ago

Sandbags were stacked at the Intermountain hospital in Cedar City as the area expected more floodin...

Lauren Steinbrecher

Cedar City braces for more flash flooding

Preparations were underway Friday for flash flooding in parts of Southern Utah, as communities like Cedar City work to make sure they don’t get a repeat of what the storms brought Thursday.

7 months ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Crews, regulars watch and wait as waters rise at Murray City Park