Engineers give Utah infrastructure a high grade, but say levees and canals need improvement
A canal flows through south-central Utah. (Getty Images)
Utah has some of the best infrastructure in the country when compared to other states, although its canals and levees are in need of repair.
That's according to the American Society of Civil Engineers' report card, released Thursday, which gives the Beehive State an overall C+ grade. That's tied with Georgia and Wisconsin for the highest score of all U.S. states and territories.
'A C+ means our infrastructure is meeting the needs of Utahns, but there's still room for improvement,' said Craig Friant, a civil engineer who worked on the report. 'This is a sign that we're doing things well here in Utah.'
While the state has one of the highest grades, the rest of the country is not far behind. The national grade is C, and most states and territories received a C or C- grade — South Carolina and Louisiana each received a D+, West Virginia received a D and Puerto Rico received a D-, the lowest grade.
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, or ASCE, an A grade is defined as exceptional and fit for the future; B is good and adequate for now; C is mediocre, requiring attention; D is poor and at risk; and F is failing, requiring critical attention and unfit for purpose.
The report lists 12 separate areas of infrastructure for each state. Consider Utah's report:
Aviation: C+
Bridges: B
Canals: D+
Dams: C+
Drinking water: B-
Hazardous waste: C+
Levees: D-
Roads: B+
Solid waste: B-
Stormwater: C
Transportation: B-
Wastewater: C
The majority of the state's levees and canals are old, according to the report — most levees are more than 60 years old, and many of the state's canals were built in the 19th century for irrigation purposes.
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The report also noted that data isn't readily available for levees and canals, which poses another risk.
'These are systems that protect households and businesses from flooding, yet we don't know their condition in many cases, which is a major public safety hazard,' said Friant, who pointed to outdated levees in Salt Lake County that protect residential areas from flooding during runoff or storms.
These levees don't currently meet the Army Corps of Engineers standards, putting them at risk of being delisted — if that happens, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, could eventually reclassify the land surrounding the Salt Lake City International and Provo City airports as flood plains, according to the report. That could 'drastically' alter how the land is assessed and insured, engineers say.
What can the state do to boost its grade? The report gives several recommendations, including more analysis and better funding when it comes to infrastructure.
'Specifically, detailed written plans are critical for the areas of water resources, canals, transportation, transit, and waste management,' the report reads. 'The state should be providing consistent financial support for project improvements, maintenance, resiliency, and risk reduction through reliable funding streams year after year that facilitate this planning.'
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Prioritizing funding for bridges is another recommendation. Even though Utah received a B, engineers say many of the state's bridges are nearing the end of their 'service lives.'
The state should also increase funding for its Dam Safety Program. Utah currently has hundreds of dams considered 'high hazard,' which means if they fail, it would cause severe damage and loss of life.
That includes the Panguitch Lake Dam, which showed signs of seepage last year after cracks appeared near the top, likely the result of ice pushing up against the concrete. The roughly 1,700 residents of Panguitch were put on notice to prepare for evacuation, but crews were able to break the ice away and stabilize the dam.
Utah has a big, expensive and potentially dangerous dam problem
To avoid a repeat scenario, the report recommends the state dump at least $10 million each year into the Dam Safety Program and try to rehabilitate all dams within 50 years. 'An increase to $20 million per year would allow faster repairs but could still require 25 years for all required repairs,' the report reads.
Bolstering 'multi-modal' transportation options — like expanding bus or train networks —is another recommendation as the state deals with rapid population growth.
And lastly, Utah should make sure the Great Salt Lake reaches and remains at healthy levels — replacing canals with pipelines will help reduce evaporation, and could ultimately result in more water flowing to the lake, according to the report.
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