History Exposed

Sand and gravel operation exposes conduit that was constructed nearly a century ago.

September 3, 2002

A section of the Big Cottonwood Conduit is exposed through mining operations.

The sand and gravel operation north of the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon has exposed a section of the Big Cottonwood Conduit that was constructed between 1904-1907. Driving along Wasatch Boulevard at about 7000 South, on the side of the road,  approximately 125 feet of the exposed section of the flow line conduit can be seen. Mining excavation activities have undermined the conduit, revealing an open section. The remnant of this water conveyance facility is a reminder of our water history.

A milestone water facility, the original Big Cottonwood Conduit provided water for the early growth of Salt Lake City.  Conveying the waters of Big Cottonwood Creek the conduit moved water from the farmlands south of the city to supply culinary water to the state of Utah's capitol city. Water diverted at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon flowed northward through the conduit to the Parley's reservoir adjacent to Suicide Rock at the mouth of Parley’s Canyon. The water then flowed through the Parley's Conduit to Salt Lake City. The right to divert the waters of Big Cottonwood Creek was the result of various exchange agreements with mutual irrigation companies who had appropriated the water for farming purposes.

Contruction of the new Big Cottonwood Conduit in 1982.

The poured-in-place conduit was replaced in 1982 with 25,500 linear feet of 66 and 72-inch diameter reinforced concrete steel cylinder water pipe. The replacement project costing $6.3 million increased the flow capacity by 114 percent from 42 million gallons per day to 90. Because of traffic concerns, the new conduit was constructed during the night hours when Wasatch Boulevard was closed. The new conduit was put into service on March 4, 1983. The original conduit was abandoned at that time.

Most of the time water relics are buried and out of sight. After being hidden for nearly a century, part of Salt Lake City’s water history is visible if you look for it.

Related link: “Big Cottonwood Conduit” http://www.slcclassic.com/utilities/NewsEvents/news1251999.htm