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LOGAN — Sandbagging and other preparations have prevented flood waters from spilling into homes along the Blacksmith Fork River, city officials said.
"I feel like we're as ready as can be," said Teresa Harris, spokeswoman for the Logan mayor's office. "It's kind of up to Mother Nature."
The Logan and Blacksmith Fork rivers were running high and rain continued to fall Monday, resulting in the closure of a few roads and campgrounds. But overall, conditions were better than expected at midday and the National Weather Service lifted its flood warning.
Cache Valley was the only part of the state where flooding was reported Monday.
Logan Fire Marshal Craig Humphreys said crews were closely monitoring three areas along the Blacksmith Fork River: the Country Manor subdivision; a bridge at 1700 South; and 600 West, also known as Park Avenue.
"There has been a lot of sandbagging that's been done along the river bank. "So far, the river is staying in its channel through that subdivision." -Craig Humphreys
Homeowners in Country Manor kept sump pumps running throughout the day, "trying to stay ahead of the water," Humphreys said.
Sandbagging efforts in recent weeks likely have kept some of those houses from being flooded, he said.
"There has been a lot of sandbagging that's been done along the river bank," Humphreys said. "So far, the river is staying in its channel through that subdivision."
Crews closed a section of 1700 South near the Riverside RV park Monday morning. Water was hitting the bridge at 1700 South, diverting across a pasture and spilling onto the road.
Water also was moving across 600 West, resulting in closure of the road between Golf Course Road and U.S. 89.
Minor flooding also was reported in Nibley, between 2900 South and 3100 South. In preparation for high water levels, crews have been working for several weeks on the bridge at 2900 South to keep debris from the river, said Cache County Sheriff's Lt. Chad Jensen.
In the past two weeks, crews have pulled 20 dump truck loads of debris from the river, Jensen said.
Elsewhere in Cache County, Hyrum Park in Blacksmith Fork Canyon was flooded Monday, as were area campgrounds. In Avon, water spilled onto the road to Porcupine Dam, resulting in its closure.
Salt Lake County and state officials gathered at the county's emergency management center Monday in Salt Lake City to discuss the potential for flooding in the coming weeks.
Sandbagging stations have been designated throughout the Salt Lake Valley. Roughly 7,500 bags have been filled, officials said.
"We've done and we're doing everything that we know to do," said Scott Baird, Salt Lake County's flood control director.
Residents in the Jensen area of Uintah County are preparing for potential flooding from the Green and Yampa rivers. The county has made sandbags available to residents to help protect their property from flooding. A sandbag-filling event is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday at the Jensen community park.
Contributing: John Hollenhorst, Shara Park and Randall Jeppesen
Email:jpage@ksl.com
