Watershed Symposium 2024

Summary:
The H2Oquirrh Vision Plan harnesses attention on the Oquirrh range’s washes and creeks and channels it into impactful improvements that have both environmental and community benefits. This talk will present the final version of the study, focusing on the vision, goals, and strategies that will steer the implementation of the plan.

Full Abstract:
There is heightened attention on water in the Great Salt Lake Basin, with dwindling water resources and a shrinking lake making national news. Drought has caused intermittent streams to have longer dry periods and changes in stormwater runoff have exacerbated issues with water quality and flooding. During this session, we will share the vision, goals, and recommendations developed for H2Oquirrh, a comprehensive vision plan for the waterways of Southwest Salt Lake County and the Oquirrh Mountain Range. The H2Oquirrh Vision Plan is an opportunity to harness attention on critical natural resources and channel it into impactful improvements that have both environmental and community benefits. It is one of the first plans to facilitate collaboration across jurisdictions with the goal of preserving open space, supporting natural hydrology, and connecting people to the outdoors in creative ways. The creeks and washes in the Southwest portion of the Salt Lake Valley, including Bingham, Rose, Midas, Butterfield, and Barney’s, Juniper, Wood Hollow, and Beef Hollow, have received less attention than the creeks flowing out of the Wasatch Range. Originating in the Oquirrh foothills, these waterways are significant environmental and natural systems that provide community benefits. Bringing attention to these creeks through the H2Oquirrh Vision Plan presents an exciting opportunity to build community-led solutions and explore new ways of supporting the interface between cities and their waterways. Over the last year, the project team has pulled topical expert feedback, community inputs, and design and engineering strategies to create a vision plan with a holistic regional approach. The plan identifies environmental, economic, and social goals to guide cities as they plan for future open space and development surrounding the waterways, as well as targeted strategies and actions that can steer implementation of the plan in the next five years. Small steps and grand visions work together to create this vision, with ideas ranging from aquifer recharge and native vegetation enhancement to low impact development (LID) and trail systems to benefit the entire downstream watershed. This talk will present the final version of the study, focusing on the vision, goals, and strategies that will steer the implementation of the plan. The multi-disciplinary presenters will provide a variety of perspectives on what went into the making of this plan.