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SANDY -- It appears the long-awaited spring weather has finally arrived. But along with the warm temperatures comes the potential for major flooding.
Sandy City has identified 12 areas where Little Willow Creek could potentially spill over into nearby properties and homes. Crews worked diligently Thursday in the area along Gamble Oak Drive -- which is about 11700 South and 2200 East -- to protect homes with muscle wall and or sandbags.
If those creeks are at a high level and you get a rain storm that is prolonged on top of it, then you will definitely have some serious problems, and we want to do all we can to make sure that residents are protected.
–Larry Bowler
Though the creek is currently bone dry, the mountains above the area are packed with snow. If the warm weather stays consistent, there's no telling how fast the snow will melt.
"It is so weather dependent. The potential is there with the snowpack, the water content is there. It just depends on how fast it comes down and what happens when it comes down," said Larry Bowler, operations manager with Sandy City Public Utility. "If those creeks are at a high level and you get a rain storm that is prolonged on top of it, then you will definitely have some serious problems, and we want to do all we can to make sure that residents are protected."
Little Willow Creek flows in and out of several properties in Sandy and in some areas only a few feet from window wells. Chris Lambson is one of those homeowners who lives along the creek, and says he was surprised to see the muscle wall being set up in his back yard.
He says his home has flooded before because of rain and runoff, and says he's grateful for the preventative measures.
"To wake up this morning and have them here putting up the muscle wall was really appreciated," Lambson said.
In all, Sandy City crews set up about 350 feet of muscle wall Thursday. Last weekend, they had about 500 volunteers from the area help fill and place bags along the creek.
There will be another sandbagging opportunity this Saturday at 8 a.m. on the corner of 2000 East and Wasatch Boulevard.
Email:spark@ksl.com
