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Alex Cabrero Reporting The mountain snow is melting, causing river levels to go up and go up fast. But there is some good news among the warnings. Although the high waters pose a safety threat, the expected flood threat has not developed.
The water coming down Big Cottonwood Canyon is moving fast, especially with all the snow we've had in the mountains this year, but so far, it's not moving nearly as fast as last year. However, the next seven days is the crucial time.
The riverbanks of Big Cottonwood River are among the most peaceful spots in Salt Lake County and as campground host, Jo Leach knows that about as well as anybody.
Jo Leach: "The water is enticing because it's got a nice, beautiful noise."
But the water coming down Big Cottonwood Canyon can also be dangerous.
Jo Leach, Area Manager: "We hear boulders running down the bottom of the river as it gets faster and deeper."
This is the time of year when streams everywhere get a little bigger. Three weeks ago, state hydrologists said with all the snow in the mountains, there was a chance the rivers would be as big as ever.
Brian McInerney, Hydrologist, Nat'l Weather Service: "If we were to put these temperatures on conditions we had three weeks prior, we would've had flooding in a lot of locations throughout northern Utah."
Fortunately, the temperatures went up slowly.
Brian McInerney: "We're losing about an inch and a half of snow water equivalent per day."
Flood stage in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons is 800 cubic feet per second. Last year, Little reached 670, Big got to 700. Right now, Little is at 260, Big at 350, well below last year and well below flooding. But there's still the potential it could go up.
Brian McInerney: "It all depends on if we get a really big rain event at this point. That'll change things very rapidly, very drastically. But we don't see that in the forecast for the next seven days."
Hydrologists are watching Logan River up Logan Canyon very carefully. They think that could get real close to flood stage. But as for the Cottonwoods, they shouldn't be a big problem.
