Construction on new Panguitch Dam set, one year after failure concerns from cracking

Related video from April, 2024: A crack found in Panguitch Lake dam causes closure of Utah highway

PANGUITCH, Utah (ABC4) — More than a year after a large crack was found in the Panguitch Dam, sparking

concerns of dam failure and potential flooding, the dam will undergo reconstruction.

Construction on the new dam at Panguitch Lake is expected to begin in late summer or early fall of 2025 with an anticipated price tag of $3.7 million.

The reconstruction effort comes after ice pressure caused extensive cracking throughout the dam. The cracking prompted an emergency response, issuing a flood watch for Panguitch, the possibility of evacuations, and the closure of Highway 143.

To mitigate pressure on the dam, West Panguitch Irrigation Co., which owns the dam, cut an emergency spillway. Meanwhile, crews lowered the reservoir and reinforced the dam to help prevent a breach.

After months of investigations, review, study, and creating conceptual designs for a new dam, the State Engineer and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved a joint state-federal permit to build a new dam to replace the existing one. The final dam design was submitted in May after several rounds of technical reviews, and the contractor was selected once the permits were secured.

“We owe a tremendous thank you to the Utah Legislature for funding this project and to our partner agency, the Utah Division of Water Resources, for their collaboration,” said Teresa Wilhelmsen, Utah State Engineer. “By working together, efforts to rebuild moved quickly and are underway.”

Officials say once the new dam is built, it will restore full function to the Panguitch Lake reservoir and significantly improve long-term safety and structural integrity.