2023 Spring Runoff Information and Resources from the JRC
With a record breaking snowpack this year, our waterways are already flowing at higher than average rates, and flooding, mudslides and other damage is already taking place. State, county and local agencies are working around the clock to prevent and mitigate the impacts to property nearby. Management of the Jordan River is complex. The stream bed is Sovereign Land and as such is owned by the State of Utah and is managed by Utah Division of Forestry, Fires and State Lands (FFSL). The lands that border the river are a combination of private and public lands, and are largely regulated and managed by the local governments, including maintenance of the Jordan River Trail. Flood control within the river corridor is managed by Salt Lake County’s Public Works Department. The Jordan River Commission has no regulatory or maintenance authority for the Jordan River corridor, but we work to coordinate efforts made by the many stakeholders of the Jordan River and bring awareness and communication to the public at large about issues related to the Jordan River.
The Commission has been working with our partners over the past decade to create areas where natural river functions can take place. Restoration of natural river functions can help mitigate flooding in more developed areas, and projects like the Big Bend Restoration which reconnected the river with the natural floodplain, will help in doing that. Over the course of the next few months, we will see changes to the river and the trail. While prevention of unwanted flooding, and damage is always a goal, it is sometimes unavoidable. Trail detours and closures will happen in order to keep people safe, and once the runoff season is over, we can repair and get back out there.
What can you do to help? We can all do our part to help prevent flooding situations by keeping our local stormdrains clear of debris, and if you see areas of concern, contact your local and county public works departments to report the issue. Below you will find more information and resources related to flooding:
Salt Lake County Spring Runoff Preparedness
Salt Lake County Flood Control
Salt Lake County Watershed’s Streamflow and Precipitation Page
Salt Lake County Emergency Management
Sandbag Locations for all cities in Salt Lake County
Salt Lake County Snowpack Program
Salt Lake City Stormwater and Flood Control Website
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
National Flood Insurance Program
Be Ready Utah – Flood Information
News Articles:
Utah flooding resource guide: What to do before, during and after a flood By Kolbie Peterson, April 4, 2023 Sltrib
Salt Lake City’s flooding in 1983 followed a year of rain and snow. Here’s what this year’s deep snowpack could mean. By Jacob Scholl, Feb. 20, 2023 Sltrib
Here’s what an ideal spring runoff would look like around Utah to avoid floods By Jacob Scholl, April 3, 2023 Sltrib
Q&A: How can I prepare my home for flooding from Utah’s spring runoff? By Blake Apgar, April 1, 2023 Sltrib
Salt Lake County is preparing for ‘fast-moving’ water from spring runoff. Here’s where officials are concerned. By Blake Apgar, March 18, 2023 Sltrib
Could The infamous ‘State Street River’ return following recording-breaking snowfall? By Emma Pitts, Deseret News April 5, 2023
‘It’s getting bad’: residents worried about Jordan River Trail erosion By Curtis Booker, KUER, April 6, 2023
