Jordan River Murray/Taylorsville Ecosystem Restoration

Since 2015, the SLCo Watershed has been working on a stretch of Jordan River between approximately 4800 South and 5100 South, with target areas on both the Murray and Taylorsville sides of the river. Each phase of our Jordan River Murray/Taylorsville Ecosystem Restoration Project (JRMT) has focused on improving riparian habitat for native fish, bird, and invertebrate populations through re-establishment of native flora, construction of active floodplains, use of large woody debris to stabilize eroding streambanks, and ongoing invasive weed control. Designed and built by Salt Lake County.

The first three phases (2015-2020) improved over 3,100 lineal feet of river bank. During this 5-year period six acres of weeds were sprayed, seven acres of disturbed ground was re-seeded, over 40,000 native plants were planted, six interpretive signs were installed, and four photo monitoring stations were initiated to collect crowdsourced photos.

Beginning February 2021, JRMT Phase 4 improved over 350 feet of failing river banks at the Kennecott Nature Center of Murray. To repair the severe erosion at the Nature Center, we installed a log platform to extend the base of the bank roughly 6 feet into the stream channel. The logs provided a stable base to rebuild the bank and reconnect the river to an active floodplain. A conifer revetment made up of recycled Christmas trees was installed along the front of the logs to protect the bank from the erosive forces of the river and enhance aquatic habitat. The conifer branches create a “roughness” that catches the current and slows the stream’s velocity along the bank.