Utah's Dixie is getting drenched

ST. GEORGE — Flash flood warnings, like the one issued for all of Utah's Dixie until 6 p.m. Monday, are beginning to sound familiar to Washington County residents.

"We've got some good flooding in a few areas," said Dean Cox, Washington County's emergency services coordinator. "We're sandbagging around homes in Brookside right now."

Water was lapping at the doorsteps of several homes in the small community that sits about 15 miles northwest of St. George.

"The worst one I saw had about eight inches of water in the house," said Cox, who toured the area earlier in the day. Nearly 2.5 inches of rainfall was recorded in the Brookside area over a 24-hour period (Sunday to Monday morning), he added.

"It's probably not quite as bad as the storm we had a few weeks ago, but the ground is already saturated so the water is running off easier," Cox said. "That translates into instant flooding, and it's in the same places, in the same magnitude, that we had it before."

Gunlock Reservoir, which shriveled up so much during the past few years of drought that rangers had to move the boat ramp near the middle of the lake, is now nearly full.

"Gunlock was never built as a flood control device, but it's caught most of the runoff for us," Cox said, pointing out the small lake was developed to store water and provide boating, fishing and swimming fun.

"Once Gunlock is full, it gets more complicated downstream," he said. "That's when it starts to affect people in St. George and Santa Clara."

Gunlock Reservoir is also full of debris, which is clogging up access to the boat ramp, said Betsey Smith, a seasonal ranger's aide.

"There are lots of branches, mud and silt in the water. I don't think it would be a good idea to try and launch a boat out there right now," said Smith. "I think there's a whole tree blocking off the boat ramp. We're trying to get it cleaned up as fast as we can."

Homes built in the flood plains of the Virgin River in the fields of Washington City weren't in danger Monday night, although that could change if storms produce more rain than expected, Cox said.

Monday's flash flood warning reminded travelers to stay away from dirt roads, gullies, washes and other normally dry routes near the water-logged Virgin and Santa Clara rivers.

"We're just hoping we don't get called out to rescue anybody," said Cox, who also oversees the county's two search and rescue teams. "If it stays cold and starts to snow, then we'll have less chance of flooding. We'll just have to wait and see what we get."

Scattered showers were expected to continue through the night, according to the National Weather Service, although there was no threat streams and rivers would breach their banks.

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E-mail: nperkins@desnews.com