Project Details

With the Big Bend Restoration Project, the City of West Jordan will create 70 acres of riparian, wetland and upland habitat and recreational open space. The project site is located along the 50-mile Jordan River, whose corridor is almost entirely bordered by developed and urbanized areas. Recreational open space and quality riparian and wetland habitat area are at a premium along the degraded Jordan River and this project will provide these resources.  Restoring a naturally functioning channel and associated riparian corridor and wetlands will improve habitat and water quality and reduce erosion.

Numerous studies have identified the need for improved water quality, additional riparian and wetland habitat and additional outdoor recreation opportunities in the Jordan River corridor and the City of West Jordan.

In 2013, Utah Department of Environmental Quality issued a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Jordan River, identifying total organic matter and dissolved oxygen as pollutants and parameters of concern.

The site was the subject of a Section 206 Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Study Report in 2003. Commenting on the current conditions of the site, the author concluded that "This reach of the river was significantly realigned in the 1950s to accommodate the Sharon Steel Site. Agricultural development, urban encroachment, and general human modification have resulted in significant degradation of the natural river ecosystem. Flood management activities and other modifications have greatly impacted the natural mechanics of the Jordon River and decreased its stability. Furthermore, as a result of this channel instability, remaining riparian, wetland, Shaded Riverine Aquatic (SRA) and upland habitat is being lost."

A draft Environmental Assessment prepared by the USACE for the site in the late 2000's stated "Historically, the project site was dominated by willow stands, cottonwoods, and species native to the area. These native species contributed to a diversity of habitat types and provided important functions in the river's ecosystem. As a result of channelization, the wetland and riparian vegetation along the Jordan River has continues to deteriorate. The Russian olive has taken the place of Fremont's Cottonwood as the dominant over story species and Kentucky Bluegrass has out-competed many of the native grasses. In the floodplain, the native woody component has been removed and replaced with introduced grasses for pastureland. Currently, most of the site is composed of non-native species. Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) and tamarisk (Tamarix chinensis) have invaded large portions of the entire Jordan River corridor." See attached images for photos of the current site conditions. Note the prevalence of Russian olive and the lack of vegetation diversity.

The City of West Jordan, Salt Lake County, the National Park Service (NPS) and other local and regional agencies has identified the site as a prime location for recreational and educational opportunities.  No less than six studies have highlighted the site's potential as a recreational hub, reconnecting the community to the Jordan River. These studies and report include the Jordan River Natural Corridor Report (2000), the West Jordan City Parks. Recreation and Trails Master Plan (2006), Blueprint Jordan River (2008), the Salt Lake County Jordan River Trail Master Plan (2008) the West Jordan City Parks, Recreation, Trails, and Open Space Handbook (2012) and the West Jordan City Comprehensive General Plan (2012).  In a 2014 fact sheet, the NPS said that once completed "the Big Bend Restoration Project will become one of the "gems" of the Jordan River Parkway trail system". As a testament to the importance of the project, the City of West Jordan has assembled a stakeholders group of 18 federal, state and local agencies that meet quarterly to discuss the project and continue it progression towards successful completion. The City of West Jordan City Council has unanimously endorsed the project and have pledged to support its continued development and construction.

The complete project, including the recreational facilities and Jordan River channel realignment is a huge effort with a substantial amount of fundraising needed. The City was rewarded $60,000 in WRI funding for Phase 3 of the project. This amount will be matched by $145,500 in funds from other grants and in-kind donations. The budget includes development of the urban fishery, trail system, associated recreational facilities, and revegetation for the western half of the site.
 
The project is located across from the Sharon Steel settlement site which was part of a 1990's superfund clean-up effort. When completed, the Big Bend Restoration Project will be the largest wildlife and bird habitat restoration project along the Jordan River. The property was acquired by the City of West Jordan (27 acres) and the Utah Reclamation and Mitigation Conservation Commission (URMCC) (43 acres) for habitat restoration including a river meander following it's alteration by the Sharon Steel slag pile which is now capped and cannot be removed from the river's edge.

Construction following completion of the design will be funded in part with $753,000 committed by the USFWS from the Sharon Steel Settlement funds. The City will own the property and maintain facilities constructed, treat and monitor weeds, and work with UDWR on an agreement to manage the urban fishery. The request for funding to UDWR is due to planning and construction funding being permanently cut in 2011 by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers who had the project lead over the past several years, drafted an environmental assessment, obtained cultural clearance, and had produced concepts plans in hopes of providing construction funding. The City is excited to have the property acquired, environmental assessment near completion, and to have a 30% conceptual design completed, allowing the City to expend the Sharon Steel damage settlement.

Please see D08, Pg 40 in the documents plan set for more specific details on the urban fishery.

Provide evidence about the nature of the problem and the need to address it. Identify the significance of the problem using a variety of data sources. For example, if a habitat restoration project is being proposed to benefit greater sage-grouse, describe the existing plant community characteristics that limit habitat value for greater sage-grouse and identify the changes needed for habitat improvement.

The objective of the overall project is to restore and enhance the 70 acres project site, providing riparian, wetland and upland habitat improvements and recreational opportunities.  The phase this funding request addresses will specifically focus on the final design and permitting support for the Phase 3 portion of the project. Completing the design and permitting of this phase with UWRI funding will provide the stakeholders with a "shovel ready" project that will be more attractive to a wider variety of funding sources. This will accelerate the process of getting the construction funded. See the attached PDF for a copy of the project's 30 percent design, the phasing plan, and breakdown of costs and design fees.

Specifics objectives of Phase 3 include:
-	Final design  and permitting of 5 acre urban fishery, including water delivery systems, aeration systems, and habitat features. The pond will include the excavation and relocation of 56,300 CY of material.
-	Final design and permitting of project's support facilities, including the picnic pavilion, flush restrooms, fish cleaning station, fishing pier, benches, and picnic tables and shelters.
-	Final design and permitting of 2,155 feet of primary trail and 1,280 feet of secondary trail 
-	Final design and permitting of 28 of landscaping and revegetation. The planting plan will include native seed mixes and wood fiber mulch, 640 shrubs, and 285 trees.
-	Final design and permitting of the irrigation system for approximately 28 acres of revegetation land, including irrigation pump house, and pump system.

Provide an overall goal for the project and then provide clear, specific and measurable objectives (outcomes) to be accomplished by the proposed actions. If possible, tie to one or more of the public benefits UWRI is providing.

Noxious weed encroachment and historical habitat loss for wildlife.

Noxious weeds are the dominant vegetation on the current proposed project area (including Scotch Thistle, Dalmatian Toadflax, White top, Russian olive, and tamarisk), and if not contained, will continue to spread into nearby residential areas, as well as downstream, due to seed dispersal, etc. Two years ago, the Department of Interior, Restoration Support Unit completed a noxious weed survey for the 70 acre project area and a Noxious Weed Management Plan was developed in 2015 (see attached). Spraying and other appropriate removal of noxious weeds will be completed this year and next by URMCC on their 43 acres in an effort to reduce the amount of weeds in the years prior to initiating the major habitat improvements. The Jordan River Commission is currently funding some planting of riparian plants and control on invasive plants through the Large Grant Program grant to over the next two years on West Jordan City's 27 acres. The restoration project will incorporate a long term noxious weed treatment plan (refer to monitoring methods).

The Department of Interior through the America's Great Outdoor Initiative committed two years of in-kind staff time from the Restoration
Support Unit, USFWS, and NPS. Other partners like the Jordan River Commission have also committed two years of in-kind support and resources. The City is striving to have the restoration design completed while there is strong support by stakeholders within two years. This would allow the City to then begin using Sharon Steel Settlement
funding for construction.

LOCATION: Justify the proposed location of this project over other areas, include publicly scrutinized planning/recovery documents that list this area as a priority, remote sensing modeling that show this area is a good candidate for restoration, wildlife migration information and other data that help justify this project's location.

TIMING: Justify why this project should be implemented at this time. For example, Is the project area at risk of crossing an ecological or other threshold wherein future restoration would become more difficult, cost prohibitive, or even impossible.

US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) - West Jordan Section 206 Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Draft Environmental Assessment (2010)
Goals /objectives of the USACE study:  1) Restoring lowland riparian habitat;  2) The restoration provides an opportunity to restore the degraded ecosystem structure, function, and dynamic processes of the river; 3) Restoring both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem functions could improve both aquatic and terrestrial habitat over what presently occurs on-site; 4) Increased the number and diversity of aquatic invertebrates and improved water quality. 
The current project used the work accomplished in the study as a beginning point for the alternatives analysis and the 30 percent design. From a habitat restoration perspective, the goal and objectives of the current project are identical to those identified by the USACE.
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Utah DEQ -- Jordan River TMDL (2013)
Utah Department of Environmental Quality has issued a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Jordan River, identifying total organic matter and dissolved oxygen as pollutants and parameters of concern. UDEQ has set a goal of reducing Total Organic Matter (OM) to 3,983 kg/day, which will achieve the target Dissolved Oxygen (DO) of 5.5 mg/L. 
The project addresses these goals in three general areas. 1) The project will stabilize banks in the project reach, reducing the amount of sediment, including organic topsoil that enters the Jordan River.  2) The project will also include the planting of cottonwoods, willows and other trees that will add shade over the river's surface. 3) The realigned reach will include small drops and riffles, which increase turbulence in the flow.  All of these improvements will contribute to the increase of dissolved oxygen in the Jordan River.
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West Jordan City Trail Action Plan (2012)
 Goals /objectives of the Trail Action Plan: 1) Includes a timeline showing the partners involved since 1991 and identifies settlement funding; 2) Identifies the restoration project adjacent to the trail; 3) Includes a listing of the restoration plans; 4) A goal stated in the plan is, "Create an aesthetic, native, and healthy plant community through restoration and establishment of a natural area."  
The Restoration Project will directly achieve the goals of the Trail Action Plan by providing habitat and recreational opportunities with easy access from the Jordan River Parkway Trail. Primary and secondary trail planned as part of the project will extend the City's trail system and provide opportunities for less formal/soft surface trails.

Big Bend Restoration Environmental Assessment (EA) (2013 and ongoing): 
Utah Reclamation Mitigation Conservation Commission (URMCC) developed an EA in 2013 as part of the Jordan River Parkway Trail design and construction. Goals /objectives identified by the EA: 1) Restore channel geomorphology, native riparian and wetland habitat, and improve wildlife habitat, 2) Improve water quality by running water through wetland complexes, 3)Reduce risk of flooding due to improved channel capacity, and 4) Restore an estimated 10,000 linear feet of shaded river aquatic habitat. 
Now that the 30 percent design has been completed for the Restoration Project, URMCC is developing an EA for the redevelopment of the site, including the habitat enhancement and recreational components. The core stakeholder group includes URMCC staff and they have providing guidance and feedback as the design progresses. The Restoration Project meets all of the defined goals, including channel and habitat improvements and enhancements, water quality improvements, flood conveyance improvements and restoration of shad aquatic habitat.
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West Jordan Parks, Recreation, Trails, and Open Space Handbook (2012) 
The goals/objectives of the Handbook: 1) Identifies lands Environmental and Recreational uses; 2) Open land gives permanent protection to natural resources and environmentally sensitive lands including wetlands and wildlife habitats; 3) Restore City open space for the ecological benefit of wildlife and native plant species; and 4) Connect corridors in and around the community that have been legally and permanently preserved to provide for recreation as well as wildlife corridors. 
The restoration project addresses these goals directly, providing a 70 acre open space sanctuary in the City of West Jordan that includes recreational components such as an urban fishery and treail 
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Blueprint Jordan River (2008) 
Goals /objectives: 1) Restore the river channel and buffers to improve and protect water quality, enhance hydrologic function, and to support vegetation, wildlife, and habitat, 2) Integrate storm water treatment into open lands to naturally filter water runoff, 3) Enhance fish habitat, and 4) Promote the river as a quality-of-life amenity and recreational destination by creating urban fisheries.
Habitat restoration, particularly aquatic, wetland and riparian habitat is a primary goal of the project, including 11.1 acres of new wetland habitat and 4.2 acres of new riverine habitat. 
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Jordan River Natural Corridor Report (2000)
Goals/objectives of the Corridor Report: 1) Provides recommendations for natural conservation corridors specially naming the restoration project; 2) Addresses restoration to "ensure proper grading and stream bed elevation and supplemental irrigation to allow successful habitat restoration away from the immediate riverbank"; 3) Provides a physical and biological assessment; 4) Addresses improving water quality by restoring the river profile to reduce erosion.
Habitat restoration, particularly aquatic, wetland and riparian habitat is a primary goal of the project, including 11.1 acres of new wetland habitat and 4.2 acres of new riverine habitat.  Water quality in the Jordan River will be improved by: 1) Stabilizing banks in the project reach, reducing the amount of sediment, including organic topsoil that enters the Jordan River.  2) Planting of cottonwoods, willows and other trees that will add shade over the river's surface. 3) Grading of the realigned reach will include small drops and riffles, which increase turbulence in the flow.  All of these improvements will contribute to the decrease of sediment input into the river and the increase of dissolved oxygen.
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Sharon Steel Damage Settlement Restoration Plan (1997)
Goals/objectives of the Sharon Steel Damage Settlement Restoration Plan: 1) Restoring, replacing, and enhancing natural functioning habitats for migratory birds and other wildlife, 2) Addresses settlement funds to provide maximum benefits for resources damaged, 3) Identifies migratory birds and endangered species and their habitat and outlines restoration of their habitat, and 4) Addresses restoring, enhancing, and replacing natural function.
The project team has been working closely with Tracy Aviary to ensure that the project's habitat restoration components meet the needs of migratory song birds and other wildlife species . A total of 40+ acres of habitat improvements are proposed, 16+ acres of which will be isolated from the general public.

List management plans where this project will address an objective or strategy in the plan. Describe how the project area overlaps the objective or strategy in the plan and the relevance of the project to the successful implementation of those plans. It is best to provide this information in a list format with the description immediately following the plan objective or strategy.

If applicable, detail how the proposed project will significantly reduce the risk of fuel loading and/or continuity of hazardous fuels including the use of fire-wise species in re-seeding operations. Describe the value of any features being protected by reducing the risk of fire. Values may include; communities at risk, permanent infrastructure, municipal watersheds, campgrounds, critical wildlife habitat, etc. Include the size of the area where fuels are being reduced and the distance from the feature(s) at risk.

The project will improve water quality in this reach of the Jordan River in a number of ways:

1) Stabilizing banks of the Jordan River in the project reach will reduce the amount of fine sediment, including organic topsoil that enters the Jordan River.  This will reduce turbidity, reduce the impact of fine sediment of aquatic species and increase dissolved oxygen through reduction of organic matter in the water. See the attached photo of the heavily eroded banks of the Jordan River surrounding the project. Many of the banks will be rebuilt and replanted. See attached sample cross sections that show bank stabilization plans.

2) The project proposes to plant cottonwoods, willows and other trees that will add shade over the river's surface. This will reduce water temperatures, increasing dissolved oxygen.

3) Grading of the realigned reach will size the channel appropriately to provide sufficient depths and velocities to prevent stagnation and deposition of fine sediment transporting through the reach. It will include small drops and riffles, which increases turbulence in the flow.  All of these improvements will increase dissolved oxygen levels in the main channel of the Jordan River.

All of these changes will also improve the in-channel habitat along this reach of the Jordan River. It currently is fairly poor habitat, with steep/high banks, uniform flow characteristics and limited bar/thalweg formation. 
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The project will improve water quantity in this reach of the Jordan River in two ways:

1) The project will acquire approximately 2 cfs of year round flow from the adjacent North Jordan Irrigation Canal to maintain the urban fishery and revegetation of the site. A portion of this water will make its way to the Jordan River after being used on the site through either groundwater input or surface flow from the pond overflow. This will increase flows in the Jordan River, particularly needed during the summer months.

2) The project is proposed to realign the main channel of the Jordan River. The existing main channel of the river will be maintained as a side channel for habitat. The addition of the channel through the site significantly increases the amount of conveyance available during a flood event. As a result, 100-year water surface elevations in the Jordan River through the project reach and upstream of the 9000 South bridge are lowered.  See the attached 30 percent plans for more detail about this realignment.

Describe how the project has the potential to improve water quality and/or increase water quantity, both over the short and long term. Address run-off, erosion, soil infiltration, and flooding, if applicable.

Description of efforts, both completed and planned, to bring the proposed action into compliance with any and all cultural resource, NEPA, ESA, etc. requirements. If compliance is not required enter "not applicable" and explain why not it is not required.

A consultant team has been hired to provide design and permitting services for the Phase 3 portion of the project. This includes a wide variety of project components, which are listed in detail in the objectives sub-section above.  The consultant team headed the alternatives development and the 30 percent design development and is intimately familiar with the project details and constraints. The team can efficiently complete the design and permitting of Phase 3. The consultant team has also built strong relationships with the project's stakeholder group. Tasks associated with the final design effort includes: site visit and data collection, completion of design details, preparation of construction documents (plans, specs and cost estimate), and assisting the City of West Jordan with bidding. Fees associated with construction monitoring and facilitating water rights acquisition is also included. See the attached PDF of detailed scope and breakdown of fees associated with the Phase 3 final design.

The consultant team includes national experts in water rights and water rights acquisition. The team also has strong relationships with the local irrigation company and Rio Tinto Group (the likely source of water rights needed for the project). As part of an ongoing scope of work, the City of West Jordan is currently funding the research and coordination needed to begin acquisition of the water rights. A portion of the current WRI funding request will utilize this coordination and research and purchase the water rights needed for the project. Please see the attached PDF for breakdown of the anticipated water rights costs.

Describe the actions, activities, tasks to be implemented as part of the proposed project; how these activities will be carried out, equipment to be used, when, and by whom.

Describe plans to monitor for project success and achievement of stated objectives. Include details on type of monitoring (vegetation, wildlife, etc.), schedule, assignments and how the results of these monitoring efforts will be reported and/or uploaded to this project page. If needed, upload detailed plans in the "attachments" section.

List any and all partners (agencies, organizations, NGO's, private landowners) that support the proposal and/or have been contacted and included in the planning and design of the proposed project. Describe efforts to gather input and include these agencies, landowners, permitees, sportsman groups, researchers, etc. that may be interested/affected by the proposed project. Partners do not have to provide funding or in-kind services to a project to be listed.

Detail future methods or techniques (including administrative actions) that will be implemented to help in accomplishing the stated objectives and to insure the long term success/stability of the proposed project. This may include: post-treatment grazing rest and/or management plans/changes, wildlife herd/species management plan changes, ranch plans, conservation easements or other permanent protection plans, resource management plans, forest plans, etc.

Potential for the proposed action to improve quality or quantity of sustainable uses such as grazing, timber harvest, biomass utilization, recreation, etc. Grazing improvements may include actions to improve forage availability and/or distribution of livestock.