SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A significant watershed restoration initiative for Utah’s Jordan River will coincide with the annual month-long celebration aimed at connecting the community with the vital waterway.
The comprehensive restoration project is funded in partthe America the Beautiful Challenge grant,which provided Utah with $5 million to restore the Jordan River’s wildlife habitat, improve its recreation areas, enhance the area’s watershed, and bolster Utah’s local conservation endeavors. That money was matched by local government funds and private donations, according to a statement from the Jordan River Commission.
“This will be the largest single, coordinated riparian restoration effort ever around Utah’s Jordan River,” according to the commission, “and will support a continued focus on the ecological health of the Utah Lake, Jordan River and Great Salt Lake watershed.”
Details on the plan were released Friday morning.
What Will the Grant Money Fund?
Big Bend Nature Park Restoration: The largest funded project, involving a 70-acre restoration between 8400 and 8800 South at the Jordan River. It includes river and floodplain restoration, native riparian forest planting, and improvements to trails and river access.
Invasive Species Management: Targeting harmful species like phragmites and tamarisk across more than a dozen locations, with support from Utah Conservation Corps crews and local volunteers. Approximately 20,000 native trees and shrubs will be planted.
Gillmor Sanctuary Wetland Restoration: Expanding invasive species management and shorebird habitat restoration in the Jordan River delta area near the Great Salt Lake.
Public Outreach and Community Science: Engaging nonprofit partners and community members in monitoring habitat and developing a broader outreach campaign to improve Jordan River watershed health.
The commission said these projects will improve water quality for both wildlife and recreational use, enhance flood control measures, increased biodiversity along the river corridor, and expand recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.
Get to the River
In conjunction with the restoration efforts, the Jordan River Commission is coordinating the Get to the River Festival, a month-long series of over 50 events throughout September.
The festival, now in its 11th year, will feature activities across three counties and 16 cities, highlighting ongoing efforts to preserve, restore, and improve the Jordan River and its surrounding environment.
“The theme for this year’s Festival is ‘Connections,’ representing the many physical, ecological, social, cultural, historical and metaphorical connections represented by Utah’s Jordan River,” according to the commission’s statement.
Political Support
The grant application received bipartisan support, including a joint letter from Utah’s entire congressional delegation.
Sen. Mitt Romney, who played a key role in securing funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, said in a statement:
Utah continues to deal with a long-term drought problem. The Jordan River Commission’s programs are leading state conservation efforts to change the way water is used in the Salt Lake Valley—using public/private partnerships and community-oriented engagement to achieve measurable outcomes. I was proud to support the Commission’s efforts to secure a nearly $5 million grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which will help accelerate critical projects related to the Jordan River’s watershed restoration and enhancement.
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