Dam Failure Case Study: Panguitch Lake Dam

Panguitch Lake Dam was built in 1872 to provide irrigation water for farmers and ranchers near the town of Panguitch, Utah. The dam creates a 23,500-acre-foot reservoir that provides recreation for nearby communities. The dam was modified in 1942, 1975, and 2011. In 2024 the upper three to five feet of the dam was damaged by ice, raising concern of an uncontrolled release of the upper portion of the reservoir. A coordinated effort by local, state, and federal officials; engineers; emergency responders; and the community prevented the release of the reservoir and provides an example of the effective use of an emergency action plan. After the incident, focus shifted to the short-term operation and long-term repair of the dam; ultimately leading to construction of a new dam downstream of the original.