Isaac Hale, Daily Herald file photo

Due to a record amount of snow that has accumulated in the mountains over this past winter, south Utah County cities are preparing for abnormally high spring runoff.All cities are hosting volunteer events where residents can help fill sandbags for use around the city, offering sandbags and sand to residents who would like them for their private property and cleaning bodies of water — everything from storm drains and rivers to creeks and ditches — to ensure the runoff flows properly. Residents should bring their own gloves and shovels when filling personal or city sandbags.

Santaquin held their event to fill sandbags for the city on Saturday. Interested residents can fill their own sandbags at the Santaquin City Public Works building, 1215 N. Center Street.

“Santaquin City along with the flood committee members are carefully watching our beautiful snow-covered mountains above the city. We anticipate that spring run-off will be extreme,” Santaquin Mayor Dan Olson said. “City staff and flood committee members are diligently preparing for possible rain and run-off water. City crews have been identifying potential threats and possible flooding areas. We have also been tracking all available information and will continue to identify potential critical areas of concern.”

Payson city employees are meeting weekly to prepare and address concerns. Travis Jockumsen, Payson’s public works director and city engineer, said runoff is expected to start anywhere between the middle of May and early June. The city is asking for volunteers to help fill sandbags on Monday and again on April 22 for use around the city. 

“If the weather warms up too quickly and comes down in a volume that the channel cannot handle, it will breach the channel. That is why we are preparing for it, by filling sandbags and we cleaned out the channels to allow the water to flow and not have materials block the flow and cause backups,” Jackumsen said.

Courtesy Springville

In Springville, there are four different locations available where residents can fill sandbags. The city is also encouraging residents whose private property backs up to Hobble Creek to clear natural debris and trash from the stream to prevent flooding.

“We expect to learn more about our trouble spots (as the weather warms up) and be able to handle and control high creek flows. For most of our residents, there is likely little risk. We have confidence that we can respond in a way that keeps issues minimal,” said Jack Urquhart, Springville management analyst.

Spanish Fork city surveyor and floodplain manager Travis Warren said residents should put together some emergency supplies ahead of time in case they are trapped due to flooding or need to evacuate. 

In the city’s monthly newsletter, Mapleton Mayor Dallas Hakes encouraged residents to follow certain steps to prepare for flooding, such as signing up for the city’s Citizen Alert program, emptying ditches, street and rain gutters on private property, consider getting flood insurance and filling sandbags to use around residences. More information can be found at https://mapleton.org/news_detail_T12_R129.php.

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