Three decades ago, after considerable snow and rainfall, severe flooding occurred throughout much of Utah, including Utah Valley. “1983 is considered a landmark period for flooding along the Provo River and Utah Lake,” says Greg Beckstrom of Provo City. “The Lake has not since risen within four feet of the elevation it peaked at in 1984.”
At the time, Beckstrom says, Provo River saw flows of 2,400 cubic feet per second, or just over 1 million gallons of water per minute. “The highest flows since then were 1,900 cfs in 2005,” he adds.
That could all change this year, though, due to — you guessed it — record amounts of snow and rainfall. Although unable to predict exactly how much flooding will occur this year, local meteorologists are issuing heaving warnings for the next several weeks as the weather warms.
Undoubtedly, many areas will be negatively affected. But Beckstrom says controllers are better prepared to absorb additional runoff this time, thanks to recent improvements to infrastructure. “While it is likely that mountain runoff this year could be the greatest it has been since 1983, impacts within Provo City would not be nearly as significant due to system upgrades completed since then,” he maintains.
“These improvements include increased capacity of the Jordan River, discharging from Utah Lake, and construction of the Jordanelle Reservoir,” Beckstrom says, “as well as enhanced detention basins and improved outfall piping to better handle runoff out of the frontal canyons.”
Whatever the infrastructure is unable to handle, Beckstrom says, the community will make up the difference — just like last time. “My most vivid recollection of (1983 flooding) is the spirit of community and volunteerism that had large groups of people and local businesses donating their time and resources to support sand bagging activities and other efforts to respond to the flooding threats,” he remembers.
“Many people worked many hours over a three to four week period to respond to these challenges, then continued for another few months to assist in recovery and cleanup.”
In other words, there’s a lot to hope for, even in the wake of impending floods.
The Utah Lake State Park in 1983.
1983 sand bagging efforts
Provo River maintenance, May 2011
Photos courtesy Merwin Fairbanks and Greg Beckstrom