(Video provided by Mayor Jeff Jensen)

• Unsafe to move equipment up to the rock slide.

The Town of Afton continues to monitor a week-old rock slide at the mouth of the Periodic Spring in Swift Creek Canyon.

The slide is threatening a pipeline that originates in the spring and transports water into the Afton system. That system serves as the primary source of the community’s potable water.

Pressure from the water flowing from the mouth of spring has created an opening in the slide, allowing for additional water to flow down the side of the mountain and into Swift Creek.

With concern for stability of the buried pipeline the town has considered moving part  of the slide but safety is a major concern in the difficult terrain.

MAYOR JEFF JENSEN SPEAKS WITH DUKE DANCE AS PART OF THE WEEKDAY WAKEUP RADIO PROGRAM –

“It’s unsafe to put equipment up there now,” Mayor Jeff Jensen said in an interview with SVI Media. “At this point it’s wait and see.’ He added, “Everything is working as it should.”

The mayor continued, “We’re watching the water line now and the concern for us is the pipeline under the rocks.”

The Forest Service trail between a picnic rest area and the mouth of the spring is closed.

The 3/4 mile trail from the parking area to the picnic area is open.

The rock slide is the second in the Swift Creek Canyon area in as many years. In early summer 2023 a mudslide nearly blocked Swift Creek, eliminating a large clear pond along the hiking trail downstream from the spring.

That slide muddied the waters with a light red and brown tint along the full length of Swift Creek and it continued into the Salt River for much of the summer.

Afton crews cleared that slide out while making improvements to the trail leading to the spring. Remnants of that slide can still be seen.