Blueprint Jordan River
The Blueprint Jordan River Refresh is a 2022 strategic vision and action plan designed to guide the restoration and development of the 51-mile Jordan River Parkway. The document focuses on seven key areas: habitat preservation, water quality, inclusivity, recreation, safety, sustainable development, and public education. Driven by public engagement from over 8,000 residents, the plan prioritizes improving water quality and maintenance while proposing actionable strategies such as restoring natural floodplains, expanding ADA-accessible infrastructure, and integrating the trail into a regional active transportation network. Ultimately, the Refresh serves as a flexible guide for government agencies and local stakeholders to balance urban growth with environmental stewardship, transforming the river into a premier community asset.
Best Practices for Riverfront Communities
The “Best Practices for Riverfront Communities” manual, published in June 2013 by the Jordan River Commission, serves as a comprehensive guide for the consistent yet flexible management of the 50-mile Jordan River corridor. The document outlines a “toolbox” of tangible strategies across five key management objectives—land use, environment, recreation, stormwater, and utilities—to help local municipalities and stakeholders implement the vision of the “Blueprint Jordan River”. By addressing different land use zones including the river itself, natural buffers, and the built environment, the guide aims to restore natural habitats, improve water quality, and enhance recreational opportunities while balancing the needs of continued economic growth in the region.
Comprehensive Management Plan
In January 2017, the Utah Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL) finalized the first-ever comprehensive management plan for the Jordan River, a sovereign land body, which flows through Utah, Salt Lake and Davis Counties. Utah Admin Code R652-2-100 authorizes FFSL to prescribe land management objectives for sovereign lands. The beds of navigable waters within the state, including the Jordan River, are owned by the state but held in trust for the public. FFSL is required to ensure that all uses on, beneath or above the bed of the Jordan River are regulated to ensure the protection of navigation, fish and wildlife habitat, aquatic beauty, public recreation and water quality.
Governing Documents
Annual Reports
The Jordan River Commission produced its first “annual” report in 2015, which served as a catch-up summary of the organizations’ efforts over its first few years of existence (2010-2015). Subseq
