May 19, 1997
Snowmelt water overflowed a high elevation irrigation canal which was blocked with ice. The overflow caused rapid erosion of loose soils on a forested mountainside 24 miles northwest of Vernal. This resulted in a 1000 yard long chasm up to 300 feet deep and 1000 feet wide. Over 2 million cubic yards of soil and rock were displaced. A debris dam in the chasm eventually breached, resulting in a wall of water moving down Dry Fork (creek) and into Ashley Creek. Some dirt roads were washed out
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database (event 5600649). Narrative written by NWS staff at the time of the event.
This event is one of many recorded floods in Uintah County. See the full FEMA flood zone map, NFIP claim totals, and disaster history for the area.