Hidden Water - Salt Lake County Water Drainages

- LC038
- 6600 South corp cen
- A Canada goose guards his domain at an office park at 6600 South.
- Valley; commercial landscaping; revetment; wildlife
- JSLC015
- Canal plaque
- A commemorative plaque in Sugarhouse discusses the history of the Jordan and Salt Lake Canal and illustrates the course of the canal through the Salt Lake Valley.
- Valley; irrigation; monument
- LC044
- Wheeler Farm intake high water
- A concrete revetment channeling water under a bridge at Wheeler Historic Farm can barely manage the flow during high runoff.
- Valley; public landscaping; recreational use; revetment; wildlife
- LC043
- Wheeler Farm inlet low water
- A concrete revetment channels water under a bridge at Wheeler Historic Farm, trash and a dead fish collecting in the slow moving water.
- Valley; public landscaping; recreational use; revetment
- MC007
- Log Haven water wheel
- A decorative water wheel on the grounds of Log Haven Restaurant.
- Canyon; commercial landscaping
- JSLC012
- Canal depth gauge
- A depth gauge measures the height of the Jordan and Salt Lake Canal at 1100 East in Sugarhouse. Water can be moved from the canal to Parleys Creek running under the canal.
- Valley; ditch; diversion; drop structure; irrigation
- LC028
- Despaines' Ditch
- A drop structure, coupled with a weir, allows irrigators to measure how much water is passing through the system, like in Despaines' Ditch.
- Valley; ditch; drop structure; headgate; irrigation
- BC026
- Storm Mt. spillway
- A four cfs flow from springs provides the only water in Big Cottonwood Creek just below the Storm Mountain forebay. The diverted water isn't repatriated into the creek until it reaches the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities' water...
- Canyon
- PC007
- Little Dell Reservoir
- A four person scull on the reservoir
- Canyon; reservoir; recreational use
- BC028
- Penstock
- A four-foot diameter penstock 3000-feet long brings water from the Storm Mountain forebay into the Stairs Station. Water pressure in the penstock forces the water to move slightly uphill into the turbine.
- Canyon; pipe
- PC006
- Little Dell Reservoir
- A Hobie class sailboat near the northeast shore of the reservoir.
- Canyon; reservoir; recreational use
- MC010
- Pioneer mill site
- A monument commemorates the construction of a flour mill by John Neff in 1848. Part of one of the mill stones was used for the monument.
- Valley; headgate; monument; signage
- MC022
- Landscaping
- A new real estate development in an old neighborhood uses the adjacent stream for its common landscaping.
- Valley; architecture; residential landscaping; revetment
- BC065
- Ivy Place
- A no trespassing sign won't stop a stream from undercutting a bank. Commercial developers need to plan a sufficient buffer zone from the stream. Otherwise, they expose their lessees to increased risks of flooding.
- Valley; architecture; commercial landscaping; pipe; signage
- DSC001
- Deaf Smith Crk in late spring
- A perennial stream, Deaf Smith Creek normally runs at less than 10 cfs. In spring, however, it can be a torrent.
- Canyon
- LC048
- Murray Park residence
- A residence adjacent to Murray City Park takes advantage of the public landscaping built around the stream.
- Valley; architecture; public landscaping; residential landscaping
- LC045
- 590 East residence
- A residence at 590 East works the creek into its landscaping.
- Valley; residential landscaping; revetment
- JSLC016
- Browning Avenue Viaduct
- A right-of-way known locally as the Browning Ave. Viaduct runs above the Jordan and Salt Lake Canal as it flows north from 1550 South to 1400 South at 1180 East.
- Valley; ditch; irrigation
- BCC002
- Rivulet pool
- A rivulet coming off Lone Peak creates a small pool.
- Canyon
- LC050
- Swift water sign high water
- A sign couples with a swollen creek to deliver an unmistakable warning in Murray City Park after several days of heavy rain in early spring.
- Valley; bridge; channelization; public landscaping; recreational use; revetment; signage
- LC049
- Swift water sign
- A sign delivers a distant warning on a placid day in Murray City Park.
- Valley; bridge; channelization; public landscaping; recreational use; revetment; signage
- MC014
- No dumping
- A sign reminds valley residents that we all leave downstream.
- Valley; channelization; revetments; signage
- BC064
- 1300 East sign
- A sign where Big Cottonwood Creek crosses 1300 East reminds us that we all live downstream.
- Valley; bridge; signage
- MC008
- Log Haven waterfall
- A spring creates a waterfall on the grounds of Log Haven Restaurant.
- Canyon; commercial landscaping
- CC007
- City Creek Drainage
- A view of City Creek Canyon drainage looking northeast from East Capitol Blvd.
- Canyon
- MC019
- Fitts Park encircling creek 3
- Abundant water in the park creates habitat for waterfowl.
- Valley; public landscaping; recreational use; wildlife
- JR002
- Flood plain
- After it leaves its eponymous Narrows, the Jordan River meanders north through its broad flood plain. UTA Frontrunner tracks share the flood plain on the west side of the river. The East Jordan Canal and a sand and gravel business can be seen on...
- Valley; ditch; flood plain
- EC009
- Bonneville Golf Course
- After leaving Hogle Zoo the creek flows southwesterly through the Bonneville Golf Course, note the tree line in the foreground of the photo. It then flows under 2100 E and through a series of WWII subdivisions.
- Valley; recreational use
- LC037
- 6600 South curved channelers
- After Little Cottonwood Creek passes over I-215 and into an office development at 6600 South, concrete dividers channel and mitigate its force.
- Valley; commercial landscaping; revetment
- TD005
- Canal/ditch crossover in fall
- After the irrigation season has ended, ditches fill in with leaves, like here at the Center Fork Overpass, where Tanner Ditch crosses over the East Jordan Canal. Ditches need to be cleared of debris in the early spring before the irrigation season...
- Valley; irrigation
- BC042
- Filtration
- After the water passes through a baffle wall separating sedimentation and filtration, it enters the last stage. Anything left in the water is filtered out when it is forced down through two sets of filters, one of anthracite coal and the other...
- Canyon
- LC001
- Mt. Superior
- Alta is one of four ski resorts that rely on the Salt Lake Valley watershed to do business. The Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities, U.S. Forest Service, and private property owners must strike a tenuous balance among sometimes competing...
- Canyon; recreational use
- LC025
- Little Cottonwood Water Treatment Plant
- An overview of the Little Cottonwood Water Treatment Plant. The Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy operates the plant. Fifteen percent of the treated water goes to Salt Lake City. The rest goes primarily to Sandy City.
- Valley
- JR004
- Glade and trail
- Areas next to the Jordan River along the Parkway can be lush with spring green vegetation, even though some of the species are invasive.
- Valley; recreational use
- JR009
- Russian olives and willows
- As in many areas of the West, human intervention has changed the landscape of the Jordan River. Once planted to stabilize streambanks, Russian olive trees, like the ones on the left bank, have proliferated and threaten to crowd out vegetation like...
- Valley; wildlife
- EJC005
- Canal at Cottonwood Quadrangle
- As the East Jordan Canal Extension runs through Holladay, it becomes an suburban waterway that separates residential from commercial property. Tailwater can remain in the canal after the irrigation season ends in October.
- Valley; irrigation; residential landscaping
- EJC008
- Inside the 6200 South Pump Station
- At the 6200 South Pump Station, water from the East Jordan Canal Extension is pumped approximately one mile uphill to the Cottonwood Corporate Center at 2950 East, enabling the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities to meet exchange...
- Valley; irrigation; pipe
- EC010
- Wasatch Hollow Open Space
- At the north end of the Wasatch Hollow Open Space the creek flows under the park area & 1700 S continuing its southwesterly course.
- Valley; recreational use
- EJC006
- Debris collector
- Before East Jordan Canal water can be pumped, it needs to be cleaned. A uniquely designed debris collector uses a grate at the 6200 South pump station to filter refuse out of the canal and deposit it on the ground via a conveyor belt.
- Valley; irrigation
- BCC1000
- Bell Canyon Dam p.4
- Bell Canyon Dam construction, 1914. Courtesy -- Harold Smith.
- Dams Reservoirs
- BCC001
- Drainage looking north from Lone Peak
- Bells Canyon Creek, sometimes called North Fork of Dry Creek, was formed by glaciation.
- Canyon; pond
- RBC001
- Gate, Red Butte Canyon Rd.
- Beyond this gate is the Red Butte Canyon reservoir built in 1930 as the water supply for Fort Douglas. In 1968 it was designated a Research Natural Area & it is no longer accessible to the public.
- Gate; signage; canyon
- BC068
- 500 West
- Big Cottonwood Creek can look ignored in its lower reaches.
- Valley; architecture; pipe
- BC057
- 6200 South Tanner Ditch
- Big Cottonwood Creek supplies water for Tanner Ditch at 6200 South and Knudsens Corner.
- Valley; ditch; drop structure; headgate; irrigation; pipe
- DSC004
- Mt. View Cemetery
- Big Willow Irrigation Company supplies water to Mt. View Cemetery, where ponds offer peace and solace for bereavement.
- Valley; commercial landscaping; headgate; irrigation
- MC005
- Mountain biker at White Bridge
- Bikers use the canyon road in three seasons.
- Canyon; recreational use; signage; bridge
- RBC013
- Bonneville Glen Park
- Bonneville Glen Park, maintained by the Bonneville L. D. S. Stake abuts Miller Park and is a continuation of the park setting surrounding Red Butte Creek as it flows southwesterly.
- Valley; recreational use; public landscaping
- BC029
- Stairs Station control room
- Brian Smith can control the water level of the reservoir at the Storm Mountain forebay by raising or lowering the turbine at Stairs Station, maintaining the water level at Storm Mountain to between three and four feet.
- Canyon
- BC002
- Skiers on Mt. Millicent
- Brighton is one of four ski resorts that rely on the Salt Lake Valley watershed to do business. The Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities, U.S. Forest Service, and private property owners must strike a tenuous balance among sometimes...
- Canyon; recreational use
- BC024
- Broads Fork
- Broads Fork empties into Big Cottonwood Creek approximately .75 miles west of Mill B South Fork. It's been called Broughts Fork, Brocks Fork, Borck Fork, Broads Gulch and Bordsfork.
- Canyon
- BC023
- Broads Fork basin
- Broads Fork on the south side of Big Cottonwood Canyon provided timber for the Mill B mine.
- Canyon
- CC012
- Memorial House
- Built in 1890 as a stable and shed for a Salt Lake contractor, this building was acquired by Salt Lake City Corp. in 1902. It was eventually remodeled and leased by the city. It has been a reception center since the 1990s.
- Valley; revetment; architecture; bridge; recreational use; public landscaping
- BC027
- Stairs Station
- Built in 1895 the Stairs Station hydropower plant once supplied all of Salt Lake City's power needs and was the third largest power plant in the nation. The brick is so soft a fingernail can scratch it.
- Canyon; architecture
- EJC003
- Canal at 1495 East
- Canals provide options for adjacent landowners. When a canal passes through their property, they can incorporate the canal into their residential landscaping. Or they can fence themselves off from the canal and its easement.
- Valley; irrigation; residential landscaping
- MC015
- Channel at 1100 East
- Channelization of streams can help mitigate lateral flooding during periods of bankfull discharge.
- Valley; bridge; channelization; revetment
- CC009
- Memory Grove Park
- City Creek meanders through Memory Grove Park before flowing into City Creek Park.
- Valley; channelization; revetment; recreational use; public landscaping
- BC040
- Coagulation
- Coagulation is a positive-negative ion process. Plant managers add chemicals with a positive charge. Negatively charged bacteria and dirt join with the chemical to form a floc molecule. A series of motors turns the water so that the floc...
- Canyon
- LC009
- Coalpit Gulch Creek
- Coalpit Gulch takes its name from the period when coal or charcoal was used to smelt metal. Men would log and burn timber to create charcoal. This was unacceptable to many, as timber in the canyon was desperately needed to shore up the mines. ...
- Canyon
- BC056
- Revetment at I-215
- Construction of I-215 required boulder revetments to stabilize the Big Cottonwood Creek stream banks.
- Valley; freeway; revetment
- JSLC1002
- Salt Lake and Jordan Canal - 1200 South 1100 East
- Construction progress on part of the Jordan Canal, near 1200 South and 1100 East. Looking west along the canal toward 4th East. Lumber mill buildings on both sides.
- Pipelines Canal construction Canals
- CCC003
- Corner Canyon Creek outlet at Jordan River
- Corner Canyon Creek begins to braid just before it enters the Jordan River.
- Valley
- CCC002
- Creek near railroad tracks
- Corner Canyon Creek runs through the fastest developing area on the east side of Salt Lake Valley. Developers have to incorporate it into their plans, either by keeping it daylighted or burying it in culverts.
- Valley; architecture; signage
- CCC001
- Creek and nature trail
- Corner Canyon Creek, in Draper, is the southernmost stream in Salt Lake Valley.
- Valley; architecture; residential landscaping; signage
- JSLC009
- Big Spill
- Cottonwood Lane at 5340 South is an important node in the valley irrigation and storm water system. There, water from the Jordan and Salt Lake Canal can be dumped into Big Cottonwood Creek. Built in 1898 and called the ""Big Spill"", the transfer...
- Valley; ditch; diversion; drop structure; headgate; irrigation
- BC063
- Frisbee golf
- Creekside Park, adjacent to Big Cottonwood Creek, weaves the stream into the layout of its frisbee golf course. Parks often serve as flood retention basins.
- Valley; public landscaping; recreational use; retention basin
- MC027
- Ski tracks
- Cross-country skiers skate or glide on the Mill Creek Canyon Road in winter. A user fee helps provide funds for grooming the trail in winter and rehabilitating picnic grounds in the summer.
- Canyon; bridge; recreational use
- BC014
- Cross-country skiers
- Cross-country skiers work their way up Mill D North Fork to Dog Lake. At the top of the drainage, they can drop into Big Water drainage and ski down Mill Creek Canyon.
- Canyon; recreational use
- BC062
- Creekside Mall
- Developers of Creekside Mall incorporated Big Cottonwood Creek into their commercial landscaping.
- Vallley; architecture; bridge; commercial landscaping; revetment
- BC053
- Market Street
- Developers of Old Mill Corporate Center in Cottonwood Heights incorporated Big Cottonwood Creek into their real estate development.
- Valley; architecture; commercial landscaping
- BC054
- Old Mill Corp Center
- Developers of Old Mill Corporate Center in Cottonwood Heights incorporated Big Cottonwood Creek into their real estate development.
- Valley; architecture; commercial landscaping
- LC035
- Union Park Centre
- Developers of shopping centers like Union Park Centre in Cottonwood Heights sometimes need to route irrigation ditches underground. The stream then conveys the water to downstream users.
- Valley; architecture; commercial landscaping; ditch; irrigation
- BC011
- Doughnut Falls
- Doughnut Falls in the Cardiff Fork drainage is a popular hiking destination.
- Canyon; recreational use
- DFC001
- Rivulet in Dimple Dell
- Dry Creek braids through Dimple Dell Park with a rivulet and a main stream.
- Valley
- DFC005
- Dry Creek outlet at Jordan River
- Dry Creek empties into the Jordan River at River Oaks Golf Course.
- Valley; public landscaping; recreational use
- DFC003
- Creek and fairway
- Dry Creek is a water feature, and hazard, in River Oaks Golf Course.
- Valley; public landscaping; recreational use
- DFC004
- Creek near club house
- Dry Creek is a water feature, and hazard, in River Oaks Golf Course.
- Valley; public landscaping; recreational use
- DFC002
- Creek at Dimple Dell
- Dry Creek, sometimes called Dry Fork Creek, is the anchor feature in Dimple Dell Park. Two drainages supply its streamflow: Middle Fork of Dry Creek and South Fork of Dry Creek.
- Valley
- CC008
- City Creek Canyon Rd.
- Due to its proximity to downtown Salt Lake City City Creek Canyon Rd. is extensively for recreation.
- Canyon: recreational use; signage
- LC023
- Treatment plant high water
- During periods of heavy runoff, the Little Cottonwood Water Treatment Plant only can divert so much flow into its ponds. The rest must be passed through to the streambed, even if that leads to downstream flooding.
- Valley; diversion; headgate
- LC032
- Royal Lane high water
- During periods of heavy runoff, water conveyances once several feet above stream level can become submerged, with water backfilling into pipes.
- Valley; pipe
- JR011
- Hastings Cutoff
- Emigrants heading west on the California Trail had to cross the Jordan River. A sign marks the spot of the Hastings Cutoff, a supposed short cut hyped by Lansford Hastings that proved disastrous for pioneers swayed by his self-serving promotion,...
- Valley; signage
- EC001
- Emigration Creek drainage
- Emigration Canyon, 9 miles long & 2 miles wide, was decleared a National Historic Landmark in 1961 due to the historic trail forged throught it by the Donner-reed Party and later by Mormon pioneers who settled the Salt Lake Valley. This view, taken...
- Canyon
- EC002
- Emigration Creek
- Emigration Creek near the junction of Pinecrest Canyon Rd. & Emigration Canyon Rd.
- Canyon
- CC017
- Entrance to City Creek Park
- Entrance to City Creek Park at State St. & 2nd Ave. The creek flows under State street and joins the North Temple St. aqueduct that empties into the Jordan River.
- Valley; signage; bridge; architecture; recreational use; public landscaping
- CC013
- Gate to memory Grove Park
- Entry gate to Memory Grove Park designed by architect Slack Windburn.
- Valley; gate; recreational use; public landscaping; architecture
- LC016
- Mouth Little Cottonwood Canyon
- Even though there are risks building on a flood plain, homes located in mouths of Wasatch Front canyons are high priced real estate. Once water leaves the canyons, its no longer part of the watershed, and the Salt Lake City Department of Public...
- Valley; architecture; flood plain
- FC002
- Rock climbing on Ferguson Creek
- Ferguson Creek Canyon is a popular spot for rock climbing.
- Canyon; recreational use
- BC050
- Flood basin
- Flood retention basins like the one at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon can mitigate the effects of heavy runoff by capturing high flow and easing it back into the streambed at measured intervals. The Big Cottonwood Creek streambed is so porous...
- Valley; flood plain; retention basin
- BC1004
- Big Cottonwood Canyon Reservoir p.1
- From "Art Work of Utah" (1896)
- Dams Reservoirs
- BC061
- Cottonwood Mall
- General Growth Properties re-routed Big Cottonwood Creek as part of its development plans for Cottonwood Mall, now on hold. The Big Ditch runs parallel to and above the creek in a covered aqueduct.
- Valley; channelization; commercial landscaping; ditch; irrigation; revetment
- JSLC006
- Crossover at Little Cottonwood Creek
- Heading east at 6600 South, the Jordan and Salt Lake Canal passes over Little Cottonwood Creek as it flows north.
- Valley; ditch; irrigation; signage
- PC024
- Parley's Creek
- Here the creek has been brought above ground as a water feature in the Sugarhouse neighborhood. West of this feature it continues underground to 1300 S & Main St. where it will head west and empty into the Jordan River.
- Valley; recreational use; public landscaping
- BC067
- 300 West
- Hidden in the midst of commercial buildings that turn their backs to the stream, there are quiet, almost mystical groves.
- Valley; architecture
- EC008
- Hogle Zoo
- Hogle Zoo is situated on both north and south banks of Emigration Creek, and is crossed by several pedestrian bridges.
- Valley; bridge; recreational use
- MC013
- Revetments
- Houses in Salt Lake Valley often encroach on the stream.
- Valley; architecture; revetmen; signage
- PC1004
- Parley's Canyon - Technicians Working at Reservoir
- Image shows a birds-eye view of the reservoir, dam, and Suicide Rock conduit, near the mouth of Parley's Canyon.
- Bridges, Stone Canyons Mountains Vegetation and climate Dams Aqueducts Electric conduits Reservoirs
- ZZ1005
- 900 South Canal - Pipe Outlet
- Image shows a bridge crossing over a canal along 900 South. Several men are working with shovels on one side of the road, to dam the canal.
- Aqueducts Canals Canal construction Dams Bridges, Wooden Antique and classic cars Automobiles
- UC1000
- University of Utah Hydrology Lab - Upper Canal and Veins
- Image shows a few students studying the canals near the University of Utah campus.
- Men in popular culture Students College students Universities and colleges Canals
- MC1000
- Mill Creek - The Divide
- Image shows a general view of "the divide" in the creek running through Mill Creek Canyon.
- Rivers Vegetation and climate Mountains Canyons Snow
- JR1002
- Jordan River - Jordan Narrows
- Image shows a general view of a dam along part of the Jordan River, near the south end of the Salt Lake Valley.
- Rivers Rivers - Utah, Jordan River Vegetation and climate Mountains Dams