East Canyon Watershed Restoration

In 2008, the Utah Division of Water Quality hired SWCA to update the Total Maximum Daily Loads for East Canyon Creek and East Canyon Reservoir in Northern Utah. As part of this work, SWCA also created a watershed implementation plan to improve water quality in the creek. Following this contract, SWCA was contracted by the Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation District to design and complete an array of restoration practices. Work includes geomorphic evaluation, creating pools to act as fish refuges, overseeing construction and nursery contractors, follow-up monitoring, and coordinating efforts with property owners along the creek. Corrective measures for the watershed are expected to result in more trees and shade, more water in the summer, more fish habitat, and less sediment.

In addition, SWCA was contracted by the Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation District to develop educational materials for key issues in the watershed and created an online map tool showing phosphorus-heavy soils and high erosion hazards. SWCA also is developing a database for watershed stakeholders and managers to centralize project progress reporting and make water quality monitoring results available to the public.

Learn more about this project in the winter 2012 edition of our newsletter, The Wire (see the story, “East Canyon Restoration”).