BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON — Salt Lake City water officials have drained a mountain reservoir near Brighton after a routine test revealed problems with a dam gate.
Lake Mary is part of Salt Lake City's watershed and is regularly drained each year, said city spokeswoman Lisa Harrison Smith. This year, however, the reservoir was drained early to allow crews to fix a faulty outlet gate.
Salt Lake City public utilities director Jeff Niermeyer said his office is mandated by law to test the gates every five years.
"We test them under a full load," he said. "This time, both gates opened fine, but one didn't fully close."
So crews have drained 40 feet of water, dropping the lake to pre-dam 1905 level of the natural lake, Niermeyer said.
Officials are now working on a plan to fix the gate, and provide for the safety of workers as they work over the remaining water, he said.
The lake is expected to naturally refill by next year as usual, according to Smith.
"Draining it early will allow crews to fix the gates in a timely manner before the snowfall starts to fill it again," she said.
Niermeyer said draining the lake will have no impact on the city's water supply, with water sources simply being switched around.
— Josh Smith