Public Utilities Purchases Donut Falls Watershed Property

On January 16, 2007, the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities purchased 145 acres of watershed property in Big Cottonwood Canyon,  Mill D, South Fork, which includes Donut Falls a popular hiking destination. The property was purchased for $1.284 million from Sierra Partners with funds from the Department’s Watershed Purchase and Water Rights Fund.

Since 1893, Salt Lake City has acquired watershed property in the Wasatch seven-canyons located along eastern Salt Lake County for watershed and water quality protection. Currently the City owns over 24,000 acres of watershed, which is about 19 percent of the canyon properties. The U.S. Forest Service is the largest property owner with 79,000 acres.

The property will be managed as watershed with public access allowed.  Watershed rules and regulations will be enforced to protect the quality of the City’s drinking water supply. Salt Lake City provides drinking water to 400,000 people in Salt Lake City, unincorporated Salt Lake County, Holladay City, Cottonwood Heights City and Murray City east of 1300 East.