Millville keeping a close eye on Blacksmith Fork

By Shauna Smith

May 1, 2006 | MILLVILLE -- If you are headed to Millville any time soon, be prepared to travel through a pool of water on your way in.

If you turn onto 200 South from Highway 165 you will see flood waters invading both sides of the road leaving a tightened roadway between. Despite efforts to prevent the free flow of rising water levels, 200 South may have to be rerouted.

Over the past month, city council members have been discussing what to do about the expected floods. They had volunteers, including youth and adults, fill sandbags in preparation. Some of these sandbags, which were placed around the overflowing drains on 200 South, now lie in the middle of the large puddles on either side of the road.

Flooding is expected to be worse than in 2005, said Gary Larsen, Millville maintenance superintendent. The council is waiting for requests from residents for sandbags, but in the mean time is looking to place them on properties that had spillovers last year.

Larsen has been keeping track of water levels of the Blacksmith Fork River by using KSL's online river forecast, which he uses to keep the city council updated.

On April 28, levels of the Blacksmith Fork River reached 6.38 feet. If levels reach 6.5 feet they will be at the bankfull stage, which is the stage at which a stream first overflows its natural banks. If levels reach 7 feet they have approached the flood stage which is when the water starts causing damage.

KSL's river forecast predicts the Blacksmith Fork River will reach the bankfull stage around May 2, but has no flooding in the forecast yet. The National Weather Service currently has no flood warning either.

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