Hidden Water - Salt Lake County Water Drainages

- CC1005
- Flood in City Creek Ditch, North Temple Street
- Image shows men working on stopping a flood on North Temple
- Flood damage; Floods; Men in popular culture;
- CC1006
- Flood in City Creek Ditch, North Temple Street
- Image shows several boys posing for a photo in the flood.
- Children in popular culture Flood damage Floods
- CC1007
- City Creek Aqueduct, East From State Street
- Image shows a portion of the pipeline and trench used during the construction of the City Creek aqueduct.
- Aqueducts Tunnels Pipelines Road construction workers
- CC1008
- City Creek Aqueduct, Between 500 and 600 West
- Image shows the construction progress of the City Creek Aqueduct along North Temple.
- Aqueducts Tunnels Pipelines Roads, Earth Canals Utility poles Home Housing Architecture, Domestic
- CCC001
- Creek and nature trail
- Corner Canyon Creek, in Draper, is the southernmost stream in Salt Lake Valley.
- Valley; architecture; residential landscaping; signage
- 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
- CCC003
- Corner Canyon Creek outlet at Jordan River
- Corner Canyon Creek begins to braid just before it enters the Jordan River.
- Valley
- DFC001
- Rivulet in Dimple Dell
- Dry Creek braids through Dimple Dell Park with a rivulet and a main stream.
- Valley
- 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
- 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
- DFC005
- Dry Creek outlet at Jordan River
- Dry Creek empties into the Jordan River at River Oaks Golf Course.
- Valley; public landscaping; recreational use
- 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
- DSC002
- Confluence with Little Willow Crk
- Little Willow Creek converges with Deaf Smith Creek approximately .25 miles above from the canyon mouth.
- Canyon; irrigation; headgate
- DSC003
- Creek at Kings Hill Drive
- Owners of a Cottonwood Heights residence blend the stream into their landscaping.
- Valley; residential landscaping
- 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
- 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
- EC003
- House adjacent to Emigration Creek
- Since the early 20th Century housing has been built adjacent to the creek. Many of the earliest examples were summer homes.
- Canyon; architecture; residential landscaping
- EC004
- Fish pond at Camp Kostopulos
- This diversion of the creek was created for recreational use as a fish pond at Camp Kostopulos.
- Canyon; pond; diversion; recreational use
- EC005
- Donner Hill Monument
- The stone cairn & plaque comemorates the Donner-Reed Party's 1846 trek through the canyon on their way to California. In 1847 Mormon Pioneers would follow & improve the trail to reach the Salt Lake Valley.
- Canyon; monument
- EC006
- Donner Hill Monument Plaque
- The plaque describes the tenacity of the Doner-Reed Party's 1846 trek through Emigration Canyon.
- Canyon; signage; monument
- EC007
- Retention Basin
- This retention basin in the mouth of Emigration Canyon is intended to collect excess canyon water run-off.
- Canyon; retention basin
- 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
- 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
- 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
- EC011
- Westminster College
- The creek flows through the south end of the Westminster College campus and the bridge connects dorms with college buildings. Within a quarter of a mile from this location the creek goes into an underground culvert at 1300 S and from there into the...
- Valley; bridge
- Ec1001
- Wagener Brewing Company Inn, Emigration Canyon
- Image shows a general view of the exterior of the Wagener Brewing Company Inn.
- Breweries Brewing industry Buildings Hotels Restaurants
- EC1009
- Pinecrest Inn Under Construction
- Image shows the construction progress of the Pinecrest Inn up Emigration Canyon.
- Building construction Hotels Mountains Landscape Vegetation and climate
- EJC001
- Canal at Jordan Narrows
- The East Jordan Canal (right) comes off the Jordan River (left) at the Turner Dam in the Jordan Narrows.
- Valley; bridge; dam; ditch; diversion; flood plain; headgate; irrigation
- EJC002
- Union Park Centre
- The East Jordan Canal runs through Union Park Centre in Cottonwood Heights, which required the property developers to incorporate the necessary infrastructure. Sometimes, the canal is above ground, sometimes below.
- Valley; architecture; commercial landscaping; irrigation; pipe
- 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
- EJC004
- Irrigation legacy
- When planning a commercial development, developers still need to provide irrigators with access to their canals, whose legacy rights trump those of the property developers.
- Valley; architecture; commercial landscaping; headgate; irrigation
- 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
- 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
- EJC007
- Debris collected
- The automated debris collector at the 6200 South Pump Station filters out an array of refuse, organic and inorganic, that winds up in the East Jordan Canal as water passes out of Utah Lake, down the Jordan River and then into the canal.
- Valley; irrigation
- 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
- EJC009
- Canal recreational spot
- While valley residents typically envision rivers and creeks as sites for recreational use, sometimes canals like the East Jordan can become recreational spots for those with imagination. Although tailwater in canals can last all year, in dry years...
- Valley; irrigation; pipe; recreational use
- EJC010
- Canal/ditch crossover
- Sometimes, irrigation systems need to be kept separate. Here, Tanner Ditch crosses over the East Jordan Canal in a flume named the Center Fork Overpass.
- Valley; irrigation
- EJC011
- Old Mill Corp Center/Utah Lake exchange
- The Cottonwood Corporate Center is an important node in the valley irrigation system. Water from Utah Lake conveyed by the East Jordan Canal Extension is pumped eastward at the 6200 South Pump Station starting in mid-July. It enters the...
- Valley; architecture; channelization; commercial landscaping; ditch; drop structure; irrigation
- EJC012
- Canal right-of-way
- While area residents see canal rights-of-way as suburban nature paths, the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities needs access to canals, like the East Jordan. When the department has to take out trees encroaching on the right-of-way in...
- Valley; headgate; irrigation
- FC001
- Creek as a trickle
- The next drainage south of Big Cottonwood, Ferguson Creek can dwindle to a trickle during midsummer and dry up in autumn.
- Canyon
- FC002
- Rock climbing on Ferguson Creek
- Ferguson Creek Canyon is a popular spot for rock climbing.
- Canyon; recreational use
- FC003
- Water tank mouth Ferguson Cnyn
- Water tanks like this one at the mouth of Ferguson Creek store water for culinary use. Gravitational forces acting on water leaving the tank build a head that delivers water pressure to homes lower in elevation.
- Valley
- JR001
- Spring sedimentation
- While it always runs off-color due to sedimentation, the Jordan River looks milky green during spring runoff.
- Valley
- 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
- JR003
- Adjacent wetlands
- Wetlands are part of the Jordan River ecology, making the the adjacent Jordan River Parkway a good spot for watching wildlife. While it once was perceived as a corridor for discarding waste, now the Jordan River and its amenities are seen as a...
- Valley; flood plain; recreational use; wildllife
- 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
- JR005
- Goose on sandbar
- Since it carries a high sediment load, the Jordan River builds up sandbars. Drop structures, like the one in the background, hinder river navigation, but municipal and county authorities are working on plans to alert boaters and enable them to...
- Valley; diversion; drop structure; recreational use; wildlife
- JR006
- Autumn on Jordan Parkway
- The color palette along the Jordan River changes from spring greens to vibrant, warmer colors in the fall.
- Valley; recreational use
- JR007
- Jordan Parkway path
- The Jordan River Parkway adjacent to the river provides a path for walking, skating and bike riding. Although not yet complete, the path eventually will be continuous from Utah to Davis counties.
- Valley; recreational use
- JR008
- Invasive species and power station
- The Jordan River has a fragmented ecology. Invasive species like tamarisk on the right and phragmites on the left encroach upon the river, making human access difficult. Industries share the river corridor, too.
- Valley; revetment
- 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
- JR010
- Commemorative crosses
- Two fragile crosses stuck in the ground along the Jordan River mark the sad fate of unknown persons.
- Valley; signage
- 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
- JR012
- Surplus Canal
- The Surplus Canal carries water from the Jordan River to Great Salt Lake. During spring the canal can have more flow than the main river, as river managers use the canal to reroute water that could flood areas adjacent to the Jordan in Rose Park.
- Valley; bridge; ditch; recreational use
- JR1000
- Utah Lake Pumping Plant
- Image shows a general view of a dam on a river and a building, still under construction, at the Utah Lake Pumping Plant site.
- Pumping machinery Lakes Water Dams Building construction Buildings
- JR1001
- Utah Lake Pumping Plant
- Image shows a general view of a dam on a river and a building, still under construction, at the Utah Lake Pumping Plant site.
- Pumping machinery Lakes Dams Water Building construction Buildings
- 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
- JR1003
- Water Wheel, Jordan River
- Image shows a large water wheel on the Jordan River.
- Water Rivers Pumping machinery Electric utilities Rivers - Utah, Jordan River
- JR1004
- North Point Dam
- Image shows the construction work on the North Point Dam, somewhere in Salt Lake City.
- Dams Dams - Design and construction Rivers
- JSLC001
- Joint Dam
- Jordan River water is diverted at the Joint Dam, approximately one mile north of the Jordan Narrows, for the Jordan and Salt Lake Canal, after the river enters its broad flood plain.
- Valley; dam; ditch; diversion; flood plain; headgate; irrigation
- JSLC002
- Canal paralleling Jordan River
- The Jordan and Salt Lake Canal parallels the Jordan River for its first few miles. Then it turns north-northeast as it follows the contour gradient.
- Valley; ditch; irrigation
- JSLC003
- Crossover at I-215
- The Jordan and Salt Lake Canal crosses over Interstate 215 at 900 East inside a concrete aqueduct.
- Valley; ditch; freeway; irrigation
- JSLC004
- Canal at 900 East
- The Jordan and Salt Lake Canal continues its route northward above ground after it leaves the I-215 aqueduct. It will remain above ground until 3400 South.
- Valley; ditch; irrigation
- JSLC005
- Canal and motel
- The Jordan and Salt Lake Canal heads east as it passes under a motel's grounds at 6600 South.
- Valley; architecture; bridge; commercial landscaping; ditch; irrigation
- 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
- JSLC007
- Pump house at Walker Lane
- The Jordan and Salt Lake Canal passes behind the Walker Lane Well pump house at Highland Drive. Irrigation water never mixes with culinary water in the system.
- Valley; ditch; irrigation
- JSLC008
- Canal at Walker Lane
- The Jordan and Salt Lake and East Jordan canals provide water for the dense canopy of trees that developed in Holladay. Without irrigation from the canals, Holladay's only natural vegetation would be typical riparian flora adjacent to Big...
- Valley; ditch; irrigation
- 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
- JSLC010
- Big Spill and Big Cottonwood Creek
- Water from the Jordan and Salt Lake Canal, flowing north, is dumped into Big Cottonwood Creek, flowing west, at the Big Spill. The creek is approximately 15 feet below the canal.
- Valley; ditch; diversion; irrigation
- JSLC011
- Crossover at Mill Creek
- The Jordan and Salt Lake Canal flows north above Mill Creek. At 1440 Murphy's Lane there is a headgate that has been cut off, so that when the level of the canal reaches a certain pre-set level, approximately 4.5 feet, it automatically overflows...
- Valley; ditch; diversion; irrigation
- 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
- JSLC013
- Canal interface with Emigration Creek
- Manhole covers provide access to the Jordan and Salt Lake Canal and Emigration Creek, which runs under the canal.
- Valley; irrigation
- JSLC014
- Canal at McClelland Street
- The Jordan and Salt Lake Canal flows under McClelland Street as it heads north from Sugarhouse. The metal plates in the street mark cross-unders and/or headgates to move the canal water into smaller ditches.
- Valley; ditch; diversion; irrigation
- 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
- 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
- JSLC1000
- Salt Lake and Jordan Canal - 1200 South 1100 East
- Several men working on the construction of the Jordan Canal, near 1200 South and 1100 East. Looking west along the canal toward 4th East. Lumber mill buildings on both sides.
- Canal construction Canal construction workers Canals
- JSLC1001
- Salt Lake and Jordan Canal - 1200 South 1100 East
- Several men inspecting the construction work on the Jordan Canal, near 1200 South and 1100 East. Looking west along the canal toward 4th East. Lumber mill buildings on both sides.
- Canals Canal construction
- 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
- 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
- LC002
- White Pine Lake
- White Pine Lake is one of several lakes in the Wasatch Range that had been dammed to collect and hold more water for downstream use.
- Canyon; dam; lake; recreational use; reservoir
- LC003
- White Pine Creek
- White Pine Fork was one of the earliest and most used slides for obtaining lumber for the sawmills. White pine was the popular term for Englemann spruce.
- Canyon
- LC004
- Lower White Pine Creek
- White Pine Fork is one of the largest tributaries of Little Cottonwood Creek.
- Canyon
- LC005
- Red Pine Lake
- Red Pine Lake gets its name from the popular term for Douglas fir in the late 1800s.
- Canyon; lake; recreational use
- LC006
- Maybird Gulch pond
- There are two, adjacent ponds at the top of Maybird Gulch, a popular hiking spot.
- Canyon; pond; recreational use
- LC007
- Maybird Gulch Creek
- Maybird Gulch is named after the Maybird mine, although it was originally known as Miner's Gulch.
- Canyon
- LC008
- Hogum Fork
- John Woolley set up a sawmill at Hogum Fork in 1854. Loggers would cut down trees and then push the logs down slides created on the mountainside. They preferred doing it in spring when there was still snow on the ground and the logs would slide...
- 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
- LC010
- Hydro diversion
- Whitmore Oxygen once diverted water near Coalpit Gulch to generate hydropower. The power was used for its electrostatic process separating oxygen from hydrogen. The company no longer generates its own power and that non-consumptive water right...
- Canyon; ditch; diversion; drop structure; headgate; pipe
- LC011
- Hydro intake pipes
- Water diverted into intake pipes builds a head sufficient to run a turbine and generate hydropower.
- Canyon; pipe
- LC012
- Murray Power diversion
- Murray City generates power for its residents from a hydropower operation in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Water is diverted approximately two miles from the canyon mouth.
- Canyon; diversion; headgate
- LC013
- Dry creek bed below Murray
- In late summer when flows are low, there sometimes isn't any water left in the streambed. Water rights holders, like power companies and irrigators, have the right to divert water, which can effectively dewater a stream, if their rights are senior...
- Canyon; architecture; environmental degradation
- LC014
- Wasatch Resort
- Wasatch Resort is nestled next to Little Cottonwood Creek near the canyon mouth.
- Canyon; architecture; recreational use; signage
- LC015
- Boulder on Little Cottonwood Trail
- The Little Cottonwood Creek Nature Trail in the lower reaches of the canyon provides access to the stream and spiritual regeneration.
- Canyon; recreational use
- 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
- LC017
- Dry bed mouth Little Cottonwood Canyon
- In early autumn when flows are low, there sometimes isn't any water left in the streambed.
- Valley; architecture; environmental degradation; flood plain
- LC018
- Flooding mouth Little Cottonwood Canyon
- What could be a dry streambed in autumn fills with snowmelt in spring and becomes a destructive torrent.
- Valley; architecture; flood plain; revetment
- LC019
- Little Cottonwood treatment plant
- Operators of Little Cottonwood Water Treatment Plant use a parshall flume and gauge house approximately .5 mile above the plant to measure water coming into the plant. Water from Bells Creek can enter via an aqueduct at the lower right.
- Valley
- LC020
- Little Cottonwood treament diversion
- In midsummer water pooling at the Little Cottonwood Water Treatment Plant diversion is clear and placid.
- Valley; dam; diversion; headgate; pond