Hidden Dangers in Utah’s Rivers

These small, unimposing obstacles in Utah's rivers can be deadly.

One hot day, I was trying to find something to do with our kids. The heat seemed to drain our brains of ideas, so we were driving without a real destination. Then, we found a spot where the Virgin River was wide, and we spontaneously piled out to play in the water.

At our makeshift playground, we discovered a small cement wall that spanned the river, providing a nice place to jump and goof around.

I didn’t know it at the time, but this structure is called a low-head dam, and it can be very dangerous—especially when rivers run high, as they might in the fall.

Low-head dams were installed in rivers to help slow the flow and aid in irrigation. However, they can cause the water to plunge deeper right after the wall, creating a whirlpool that can be perilous. Because the water flows over the top of them, their unimposing appearance often leads people to underestimate the danger.

Rollin Hotchkiss, a civil and environmental engineer at BYU, has been working with his students to make these structures less hazardous. In the meantime, it's important to be aware that a low-head dam might be lurking in a section of the river, so take precautions. According to Hotchkiss, these dams have been the cause of many fatalities in Utah.

Read More: Here’s the Fault in Southern Utah Where Earthquakes Occur

Of course, rivers are always potentially dangerous, as water levels can rise due to water releases or precipitation. It’s always wise to take extra precautions when enjoying these beautiful natural wonders—especially in Southern Utah, where waters can rise and fall in an instant. So, be careful and have fun.