The Utah Geological Survey is hopeful the public's assistance will magnify its efforts to locate fissures or cracks in the earth's surface in Iron County's Cedar Valley area,

The Central Iron Water Conservancy District has asked the agency to study earth fissures in the Enoch area and adjoining parts of Cedar Valley in Iron County.

"Our hope is that by putting out the information on fissures and what they are, people might recognize them and direct us to where they are," said Mike Lowe, the agency's groundwater and paleontology program manager.

Earth fissures are commonly defined as long narrow cracks, in soil or dirt, across which there may be varying amounts of vertical offset. They may cut across and affect existing infrastructure, roads, agricultural fields and undeveloped areas. The fissures may form in response to the compaction of an aquifer resulting from tapping groundwater or a decrease in groundwater levels.

UGS staff will map existing earth fissures in Cedar Valley, conduct surveys to define the extent and magnitude of settling or cave-ins and assess changes in groundwater levels over time.

The study is expected to take one year to complete. Anyone knowing of earth fissures or similar features elsewhere in the Cedar Valley should contact the UGS Cedar City office at 435-865-9036.

— Amy Joi O'Donoghue