Flood Information Center

The risk of flooding outside of the river floodplain is low. Homes near the floodplain of the Spanish Fork River could be affected by high water as snow melts. View the online interactive floodplain map.

In the coming weeks, as high water becomes imminent, we will roll out our strategic sandbagging plan, which will focus on and around the Spanish Fork River.

Public and private properties located near the Spanish Fork River have the greatest potential for flooding. We have the ability to close the East Bench Canal and the Millrace and focus our mitigation and preparation efforts in and along the river channel.

• You can find the current river flow on the USGS website. Typical spring river flow could reach 1,000 cfs (cubic feet / second). As the river nears and surpasses 1,800 CFS (7’8”), we will begin to take significant protective action.
• The high-water flows in 1983 and 1984 reached 2,770 CFS and 3,700 CFS, respectively.

The City has taken, and continues to take, a number of steps to prepare for and mitigate potential flood damage:

• Clearing the river. City crews removed dead trees, large branches, and other debris from the river beds and the surrounding areas to prevent dams from being created.
• Armoring riverbeds. Crews have armored several banks along the river with heavy rock and material to help prevent eroding as river levels rise.
• Removing sandbars. We have identified and worked to remove sandbars throughout the river in order to maximize the river’s capacity to get water from the mountains into Utah Lake.
• Building levees. The City and partners have and are working on building levees in strategic places along the river to increase river capacity and protect property.

• The City’s priorities are two-fold. 1) Protect public properties and investments. 2) Facilitate the protection of private properties.
• The City has made many efforts to maximize the flow capacity of the river. Heavy equipment will also be stationed along the river to keep bridges from becoming dams and to retrieve other debris that may become lodged somewhere along the river channel. These improvements will help to protect public and private properties along the river. As high water becomes imminent, the City will also make sandbags available to homes along the river and deploy sandbags to protect other public investments.

• Frequently check spanishfork.org/flood for the most up-to-date information and follow Spanish Fork City on Facebook and Twitter.
• If you live along the river, please remove fences, patio furniture, or other items that could create problems downriver during high water.
• Create and discuss a disaster plan with your family.
• Talk with your neighbors, especially those that may need additional help in the event of an emergency.
• Prepare a 72-hour or disaster supply kit. For details on what to include, visit bereadyutah.gov.

Yes. When flooding becomes more imminent the City will issue a call for action. Because of our monitoring efforts, there will be some advance notice of high water and residents will have an opportunity to sign up and participate in filling and stacking sandbags.

The Spanish Fork River has flooded a few times in recorded history, with the 3 most memorable floods in 1952, 1983, and 1984. These years recorded water flow in excess of 3,000 cubic feet / second (cfs). In a typical spring, the Spanish Fork River flow will run between 500 and 1000 cfs.

In 2011 residents may recall high-water flows that did not flood, although flows were up to 2,000 cfs.