Utah County resident urges action after floodwaters damage orchard from Summit Creek

Cheryl Fowers, who identified herself as a regional resident, told the Utah County Board of County Commissioners on May 31 that severe and recurring spring floods from Summit Creek have run through her orchard and caused significant damage to multiple rows of trees and farm operations. "We can't pay for this. Like, this is not right that that we're just supposed to sit back and accept this," Fowers said, describing lost harvest and labor challenges.

Fowers recounted historical efforts to address the drainage, including a fact-finding committee in the early 1980s and a court case she said they won. She described past mitigation measures — a pipeline and two semitrailer loads of sandbags after a recent event — but said those fixes are insufficient when the reservoir spills and redirects water into her property. She told commissioners the local system once had 11 ditches that fed the High Line Canal but that many have been filled in, increasing flood risk.

The commissioner presiding over the meeting acknowledged the complaint and said county staff would follow up. "I'll follow-up with you very, very soon," an unnamed commissioner said, offering to connect Fowers with county emergency management and local contacts, and to check what qualifies for FEMA assistance. County staff also mentioned consulting with the emergency manager to evaluate eligibility for federal aid.

Fowers urged the county to include affected landowners on planning committees and to consider infrastructural changes — for example, increased outlet capacity from the canyon — rather than telling residents to "accept" the damage. She also noted a mismatch in reported reservoir capacity during the meeting (a participant corrected an initial 70-acre-foot reference to 40). Fowers requested the county pursue state flood-mitigation funds and to explore other remedies.

The Board did not take a formal vote on a mitigation plan during the meeting. Officials said they would follow up with Fowers and local contacts (including a county representative who had inspected the site) to determine next steps and whether the damage qualifies for FEMA or state assistance. The Board adjourned after completing the public-comment period.

Next steps: county staff will contact Fowers and local stakeholders to assess damage, review FEMA/state funding eligibility and report back to the Board. No formal mitigation measure or funding commitment was adopted during the May 31 meeting.