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Bulletin Board ARGENTA: The Dam That Wasn't LeRoy W. Hooton, Jr. September 6, 1999 Introduction
The proposed Argenta Dam was rated the most cost effective water project studied within the Salt Lake valley, and was the Advisory Boards first choice for development. Deer Creek Reservoir, proposed for construction on the Provo River, was rated the top priority project located outside of the valley. The Water Board's recommended acquiring 40,000 acre-feet of water from this imported water supply. The proposed 12,000 acre-feet of water stored behind the Argenta Dam would be released into Big Cottonwood creek to flow to the mouth of the canyon and then diverted to the City through the Big Cottonwood Conduit. Located about 11 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon, it would store water from 26 square miles of watershed at elevations between 7,200 to 11,500 feet. The dam was estimated to cost $191 per acre-foot of water developed. The City projected that with the completion of Argenta Dam, enough water would be provided for 80,000 new residents, meeting the growth demands of the City for 15 to 25 years. It was argued that it would take 10 or more years before Deer Creek would be under construction and the Argenta Dam and Reservoir could fill the gap. International Engineer Hired The City hired an international dam expert and engineer, Fred A. Noetzli from Las Angeles to study the site and recommend a dam design. Mr. Noetzli recommended an inverted cone arch dam, standing 220 feet high above the creek bed and 67 feet below the creek bed to bedrock. At bedrock the structure would be 67 feet thick, tapering to 47 feet at creek bed and to 8 feet at the top. Forked abutments extending into the bedrock on both sides added additional safety to the structure. According to the recommendation, the proposed inverted cone type dam design was similar to the dome type dam design used successfully in the Coolidge dam. The Engineer claimed that the "arch dam would have to be crushed before it would fail." The impounded water would form a lake nearly 1-1/2 miles long extending up Big Cottonwood Canyon. The road would have to be relocated along the side of the new body of water. Bond Election Held On May 6, 1930 a bond election was held to approve the construction of Argenta Dam at a cost of $2.3 million. Four other projects totaling $700,000 were included to make a total bond of $3 million. An increase in water rates would finance the bonds. Lead by City Engineer J.C. Jessen, City officials urged support of the bond, claiming that the City could not grow beyond its existing water supply. Jessen had chaired the 1928 Water Advisory Board's study and recommendation that Argenta be built. According to the Municipal Record, "Our city, because of its many advantages in position, beauty, climate, culture, transportation and educational facilities, and its wealth of unequaled scenic wonders … which are becoming more generally known to the world, is bound to grow more rapidly in the future than it has in the past." It continues, "The First and most important limitation of such a growth is our water supply. We have reached practically the outer edge of our water margin." In emphasizing the need for additional stored water supply, it compared the volume of Denver to Salt Lake City. "Denver, about twice the size of Salt Lake City, has a supply of stored water estimated at 100,000 acre-feet… compared to Salt Lake City's 5,000 acre-feet." Despite the City's efforts to pass the bond, it was overwhelmingly defeated. Opponents of the dam claimed that there was not sufficient water to fill the dam and that it was too costly. The final tally was 82 percent opposed to 18 percent in favor. Each project was voted on separately and all were defeated at about the same percentage. It may be speculated that the stock market crash 7 months earlier and the growing national depression had an influence on the election. Nevertheless, it was soundly defeated. With the defeat, the City would move forward with another bond election on July 1, 1931 to approve $2 million in water projects. Approved during a drought period, wells were drilled, the Artesian Basin in the Murray area was purchased, and the additional Little Cottonwood Creek water was transported to the City with the construction of the Little Cottonwood Conduit. With the Little Cottonwood Conduit, the City was able to effect the Little Cottonwood Creek Exchange agreements with the farmers. Construction of these water facilities took on added importance as the drought of the 1930s deepened. By 1935, the City experienced severe drought conditions. The new water supplies developed by the 1931 bond election would provide much needed water during this difficult period. Additional Argenta Dam Studies The Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake City was formed in 1935 to participate in the Provo River Project and the construction of Deer Creek Reservoir in Provo Canyon. As part of their tasks, they again studied Argenta, but did not directly follow-up on Salt Lake City's plan. The newly formed District's main focus was the construction of Deer Creek Reservoir and the Salt Lake Aqueduct. In the early 1950s the Provo River Project and Salt Lake Aqueduct were completed. The District in 1958 acquired 15,200 additional shares in the Provo River Project, when it entered into an exchange agreement with the Utah Lake Distribution Company, bringing its ownership to 61,700 shares. With this exchange the District had developed sufficient water to meet Salt Lake City's stored water supply until 2005. Thereafter, Central Utah Project water will be delivered. Questions regarding this article can be directed to: leroy.hooton@ci.slc.ut.us
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