RICH COUNTY, Utah — Flooding in Utah has already had a devastating impact on farmers and ranchers in Rich County this week, leaving multiple dead livestock in its wake.
On Thursday, the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food reported 20-30 ranchers along the Bear River have been impacted, as flooding has damaged both roads and land.
Because ranchers have no dry place to put or transfer cattle, many have died due to the high floodwaters. Photos shared by the department show dead animals in the county, but it's not known how many have died during the current flooding.
Normal grazing areas have previously been closed due to the massive amounts of snowfall found across most of Utah this winter. FOX 13 News was told that during the winter, at least 100 farmers in the area lost about a quarter of their cattle, and Rich County commissioner Sim Weston said approximately 2,000 heads of livestock have been lost overall in recent months.
In video released by the department, land in the county in northeast Utah can be seen inundated by water, with makeshift bridges being utilized to cross newly-formed streams.
“After many difficult years of drought and an extremely hard winter, these ranchers are now experiencing some of the worst flooding ever seen in Rich County,” said UDAF Commissioner, Craig Buttars. “Our department is working to do everything we can to help these ranchers and set up resources for others who may experience hardships due to flooding.”
The department estimates that ranchers in the area are expected to see up to $25,000 in additional costs per ranch, and up to $5,000 to evacuate their cattle.
“Ranchers don’t do it to become rich," said Weston. "You’re lucky if you can zero out and make a little and that's a good thing, and when you lose 20% of that, you’re just going to go the bank and say can you float us a loan,”
With temperatures warming up during the spring, snowmelt has been cause for concern over the past week. Ranchers are still not sure how the flooding will impact them overall, especially with more snow still in the mountains and yet to melt.
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