News

Actions

Water conservancy district cited over pollution in American Fork River

Posted at 1:02 PM, Sep 28, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-28 16:42:50-04

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Division of Water Quality has cited the North Utah Water Conservancy District after sediments released from Tibble Fork Reservoir were found to contain elevated levels of lead and other chemical elements.

The NUWCD was cited for failing to meet Army Corps of Engineers and DWQ permit conditions and for failing to immediately report the incident to the DWQ.

The conservancy district also received a Notice of Violation and Compliance Order for degrading water quality beyond state standards and for discharging a pollutant that harms public health, wildlife, fish and aquatic life.

The August 20 sediment release prompted health officials to warn the public to stay out of the American Fork River from Tibble Fork Reservoir and downstream. The Utah County Health Department also posted caution signs along the river to warn against wading or walking along the banks.

Hundreds of fish were found dead in a two-mile stretch of the river near the reservoir.

The sediment was released as part of a construction project to make the dam at Tibble Fork Reservoir earthquake ready.

Click here for more information from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality.