Water Resources Development, State of Utah, 1987
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US Army Corps of Engineers South Pacific Division Water Resources Development in Utah 1987 TC 423 .A15 UTAH 1987 This publication is authorized by the Secretary of the Army as required by PL 99-662 WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT State of Utah 1987 HECSATecImKal Library Foreword Enactment of the Water Resource Development Act of 1986 provides our Nation with a framework for water resources development until well into the 21st century. The law has made numerous changes in the way potential new projects are studied, evaluated and funded. The major change is that nonfederal cost sharing is specified for most Corps water resources projects. A new partnership now exists between the federal government and nonfederal inter ests that affords the latter a key role in project planning and allows the federal government to spread its resources over more water projects than would have been possible before. With the passage of this law, the federal water resources program is in better shape than at any time in the past 16 years. The law authorizes over 260 new projects for inland naviga tion, harbor improvement, flood control, and shore protection—with additional benefits in water supply, hydropower and recreation. I hope this booklet gives you a glimpse of the extent, variety and importance of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water resources development activities in your state. JOHN S. DOYLE, JR. Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) To Our Readers Our Nation's water resources program, as well as our Constitution, may well have been born on the banks of the Potomac River in the 1780s out of a disagreement between Virginia and Maryland. Both states claimed jurisdiction over navigation on the Potomac and Pokemoke Rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. Under the Articles of Confederation, the Continental Congress did not have the power to resolve the dispute and regulate commerce. Fortunately, the states decided to meet to settle the matter. A convention was held at Mount Vernon in 1785; and again in Annapolis in 1786. Out of those two meetings grew the belief that a strong central government was needed. At the very least, the Articles of Confederation needed to be amended. The convention attendees petitioned Congress in February 1787 and the Constitutional Convention was held in Phila delphia that May. Thus, in celebrating the bicentennial of the United States Constitution this year, we are, in a way, celebrating the birth of our water resources program. The program encompasses port and river nagivation improvements, flood damage reduction, beach erosion control, hydro- power generation, water storage, development regulation in navigable waters and wetlands, and recreation. In all, the Corps manages almost 2,000 water resource projects across the nation. It does this in cooperation with local interests and other federal agencies. This year, the Corps has the additional challenges of the projects authorized by Public Law 99-662, the Water Resources Development Act of 1986. This act lays the foundation for water resource development for generations to come. This booklet is one of a series detailing water resources programs in the 50 states and U.S. possessions. I hope you find it interesting and useful. E.R. HEIBERG III Lieutenant General, USA Chief of Engineers Further information on specific Corps activities, projects, and programs in Utah is available from the following offices: U.S. Army Engineer Division, South Pacific 630 Sansome Street San Francisco, CA 94111-2206 (415) 556-5630 U.S. Army Engineer District, Los Angeles 300 N. Los Angeles Street Los Angeles, CA 90053-2325 (213) 894-5320 U.S. Army Engineer District, Sacramento 650 Capitol Mall Sacramento, CA 95814-4794 (916) 551-2526 U.S. Army Engineer District, Walla Walla Building 602, City-County Airport Walla Walla, WA 99362-9265 (509) 522-6660 II TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Cooperation in Projects of Other Agencies 9 Civil Works Overview 1 Drainage Basins of Utah 9 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its Activities in Utah 1 PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Authority for Corps of Engineers Great Salt Lake Basin 10 Little Dell Lake 10 Authorization and Planning Process for Water Jordan River at Salt Lake City 11 Resources Projects 2 Kays Creek at Layton 11 Principles and Guidelines 2 Section 7 Projects 11 Major Steps in the Planning, Design and Jordan River Basin 11 Implementation of Civil Works Projects 2 Wasatch Front and Central Utah 12 Two-Phase Study Process 4 Great Salt Lake 12 Reconnaissance Phase 4 Bear River and Tributaries 12 Feasibility Phase 4 Weber River and Tributaries 12 Continuing Authorities Program 4 Sevier Lake Basin 13 Planning Process for Continuing Redmond Channel Improvement 13 Authorities Program Projects 5 Big Wash Diversion Dam and Channel 13 Sevier River and Tributaries 14 Projects Approved by the Public Works Committees ... 5 Green River Basin 15 Project Deauthorization 5 Section 7 Projects 15 How Local Interests Share in Federal Projects 5 Colorado River and Tributaries Above Lee Ferry.. 15 Flood Control and Flood Plain Management 5 Colorado-San Juan Basin 17 Navigation 6 Colorado River and Tributaries Above Lee Ferry.. 17 Shore and Hurricane Protection 6 Navajo Indian Reservation 17 Hydropower 7 Virgin River Near St. George 18 Water Supply 7 Environmental Quality 7 FLOODS AND EMERGENCY OPERATIONS Utah Floods 1982-1985 19 Regulatory Programs 7 Emergency Operations 1982-1985 19 Recreation 7 Dam Inspection Program 8 GLOSSARY 20 Emergency Work 8 Reevaluation of Completed Projects 8 INDEX 23 III Introduction Through its civil works program, the Corps carries out a Civil Works Overview comprehensive nationwide effort in water resources plan From 1775 to the present, the U.S. Army Corps of Engi ning, construction, and operation. These activities are car neers has served the nation in peace and war. ried out in accordance with directives from Congress and Formed by General George Washington during the Revo are supervised by the Chief of Engineers under the direction lutionary War as the engineering and construction arm of of the Secretary of the Army. In close cooperation with the Continental Army, the Corps built fortifications and other federal agencies, and with interested state and local coastal batteries to strengthen the country's defenses and authorities and organizations, the Corps works to provide went on to found the Military Academy at West Point, to beneficial improvements desired by local citizens. help open the West, and to develop the Nation's water The civil works program is directed toward developing resources. Today it is the largest engineering organization in water resources in a way that will lead to the satisfaction of the world. all water related requirements—both immediate and long Although the primary mission of the Corps has always range. Among other needs, these include improvements for been to provide combat support to our fighting Army, the navigation, flood control, major drainage, water supply for nation over the years also needed roads, railroads, light irrigation and municipal-industrial uses, water quality con houses, bridges, and other works of engineering. Conse trol and waste water disposal, hydropower, water oriented quently, since the period immediately following the Revolu recreation, enhancement of fish and wildlife resources, and tionary War, the Corps has carried out numerous civil the preservation of aesthetic and ecological values. Special works responsibilities, and since 1824, it has been the prin emphasis is being placed on flood plain management in cipal developer of the Nation's water resources. support of a national effort to reduce flood losses through Ever responsive to the changing needs and demands of appropriate state and local regulation of the use of flood the American people, the Corps has planned and executed prone areas. national programs for navigation, flood control, water supply, hydroelectric power, recreation, conservation, and The first Corps of Engineers civil works activities in Utah preservation of the environment. In its military role, the were investigations of navigation on the Green River in the Corps plans, designs and supervises the construction of late 1880s. The basis of the now ongoing civil works pro modern facilities which are necessary to ensure the combat gram was the 1938 Flood Control Act, which contained readiness of our Army and Air Force. authority for the Corps of Engineers to make flood control investigations on streams draining into the Great Salt Lake and the Great Basin, and the Upper Colorado River and The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers tributaries above Lee Ferry, Arizona. Preliminary studies and Its Activities in Utah resulted in recommendations for detailed investigations of streams in Davis County and the Bear, Weber, Jordan, and The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been the princi Sevier River Basins. Subsequently, authority for other stud pal water resources agency of the federal government since ies was provided and flood control projects were authorized 1824. The earliest activities in Utah attributable to the and constructed. Corps of Engineers trace back to the initial surveys for the transcontinental railroad during the 1850s. In 1869, the In the 1930s, Corps of Engineers activities in Utah were Corps of Engineers began work on a series of topographical under the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles District. A subof- and geographical surveys and explorations of the area west fice of the District was established in Salt Lake City in of the 100th meridian, which includes the State of Utah. 1940, and from April 1942 to October 1943, a separate The objective of these surveys was Corps of Engineers district existed. In addition to most of ... that the physical structures of the waste and Utah, the Salt Lake District included parts of Nevada, unknown lands along the untenanted mountain fron Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado. In 1943, the Salt Lake tiers shall be brought to light and made known not District was abolished and the Great Basin portion of the only for the uses of Government, but for all of the State was assigned to the Sacramento District, and the people for all time.