WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Washington County, Utah)
MAJOR FLOODS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
HISTORY
January 1862: Santa Clara & Virgin Rivers FloodIt started on Christmas eve of 1861 and continued for 44 days and nights.
It is still considered the most severe flood in Dixie since the days of the early Mormon settlers.
It was part of a pattern that covered the entire soutwest United States.
December 1889: Great Flood in New Harmony
1932
There was major damage to the dam on the Santa Clara River.
1938
Flood Conditions Exist as Rain Continues
Washington County News, March 3, 1938
There was major damage to the Winsor Dam.
1955
There was major damage to the Winsor Dam.
July 29,1975
Residents of Bloomington were warned there was an 18-foot wall of water coming out of Zion National Park. The water came up to within a foot or two of the floor of the Man 'O War bridge. It washed away the east end of the approach, but did no other damage.
January 1, 1989: Quail Creek Reservoir Dam Failure
January 1, 1989, 12:08 am: The southwest dam on the Quail Creek Reservoir failed, unleashing a 40-foot wall of water, causing a flood down the Virgin River. There were no fatalities, but $12M in damages. For more details, click here.
January 10-11, 2005: Santa Clara & Virgin Rivers Flood
January 10-11, 2005: Flood on the Virgin and Santa Clara Rivers
$200 million in damage; ?? homes lost in Washington County.
2011
There was major damage to the Winsor Dam.
REFERENCES
"The First Christmas in St. George - 1861"By Mary Pheonix
In http://www.dixietoday.com/history.html
Wikipedia article on the Great Flood of 1862
Photos of the January 11, 2005 Santa Clara River flood
Book "Portraits of Loss - Stories of Hope"
Published by the Stories of Hope Volunteer Committee, 2005
ISBN 0-939771-17-9
Video: "The 2005 Santa Clara - Virgin River Flood - Images of Loss and Home"
DVD produced by Hal Hilburn and Bryce Hunt
http://www.utahfloodrelief.com
Remembering The Flood: Ten years ago our town's true colors shined through
by Lyman Hafen
St. George Magazine, January 2015, pp. 41-42