Watershed Symposium 2019

Feasibility Analysis for Daylighting of City Creek in Folsom Corridor

Summary:
Daylighting piped streams have become a priority for many communities. Since the 1990s there has been interest by community members in daylighting City Creek in the Folsom Corridor. This talk will discuss some of the key issues and opportunities identified during the development of the 2019 City Creek Daylighting Feasibility Study, Salt Lake City.

Full Abstract:
Daylighting of piped streams along with stream restoration have become a priority for many communities nationwide. In addition to City Creek, other examples include Waller Creek in Austin and the Trinity River in Dallas, all of which are in the midst of restoration planning and have completed associated daylighting or restoration projects. Each of these projects have also undertaken studies that attempt to identify the environment and community needs and benefits of daylighting/restoration efforts. Project benefits are often targeted at improving water quality and habitat for aquatic and riparian flora and fauna; enhancing urban greenways for pedestrians and cyclists; and encouraging redevelopment of areas around the improved stream corridors. However, challenges often exist that can include conflicts with existing development and right-of-way issues, regulations and permitting, and affordable and attainable designs that balance the hydraulics of the existing systems, design concepts and expectations, and well-established public interests and visions. City Creek emanates from the canyon of the same name in the northern reaches of Salt Lake City. The creek originally flowed freely through Salt Lake City to the Jordan River, which terminates in the Great Salt Lake. In 1909 the entire stretch of City Creek was diverted underground at the mouth of the canyon. In the 1980’s portions of the creek were daylighted and in the 1990’s the Army Corps of Engineers studied the possibility of daylighting the lowest segment of the water way – the Folsom Corridor. Since then there has been continued interest by community members and Salt Lake City Corporation in daylighting the stream. This talk will discuss some of the key issues and opportunities identified during the development of the 2019 City Creek Daylighting Feasibility Study.