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Show habitats for many species. Such areas generally offer all four major habitat components: food, water, cover and living space. Where there is adequate water and deep soils, production of plant and animal biomass increases. Only 2,000 acres of wetlands remain along the undeveloped reaches of the Jordan River between the Salt Lake County line and 2100 South. Pressure exists to develop along the Jordan River corridor, and it will undoubtedly increase in the coming years. The sensitivity and scarcity of wetlands, combined with the values and functions they provide ( such as flood control, improved water quality and enhanced wildlife habitat), reflect the need for increased protection, conservation, management and restoration efforts by local, state and federal agencies. Improper development in the Jordan River corridor will result in loss of critical flood storage, increased nutrient and pollutant loading, loss of fish and wildlife habitat, and loss of recreational opportunities. 14.4.5 Fish Habitat The primary cause offish habitat loss in the Jordan River has been flood control practices such as dredging and straightening the river channel. Since the time of settlement, the Jordan River has been transformed from a richly diverse meandering river to essentially a uniform bottomed trapezoidal channel resulting in high uniform velocities and little cover for fish and other wildlife. Effects of channelization on stream communities, including fish, macroinvertabrates and riparian habitat, have proven to be extremely detrimental and long term. Channelized sections of the Jordan River are dominated by warm water, sediment tolerant fish such as carp and suckers that are not typically favored by local anglers. Less disturbed river sections support desirable game fishes such as trout, walleye, perch and bass. Recent changes in flood control philosophies along the Jordan River may provide opportunities for improving fish habitat in the future; but until floodplain encroachment by development is curbed, requests to dredge and straighten will continue. 14.5 Alternative Solutions or Actions Water is an important part of nature in the city. In urban areas, water is often piped underground or diverted into concrete channels. A better alternative would be to determine where runoff water can be brought into open spaces. Designing on- site water drainage and retention can supply water to plant and animal life, at the same time decreasing the demand on drainage systems. 14.5.1 Central Utah Project Completion Act Title III of the Central Utah Project Completion Act authorizes $ 145 million for specific environmental mitigation, conservation and recreation projects. More than $ 9 million dollars has been specified for wildlife mitigation issues and recreation facilities along the Jordan River. An additional $ 14 million has been designated to preserve, rehabilitate and enhance wetland areas around the Great Salt Lake. The improvements along the Jordan River corridor are intended to preserve fish and wildlife habitat and other functional wetland values and enhance urban wildlife recreational opportunities. The specified Jordan River Projects are: Improve fish habitat - $ 1,150,000 Improve riparian habitat - $ 750,000 Acquire wetlands - $ 7,000,000 Jordan Parkway recreation - $ 500,000 14.5.2 Jordan River Meander Corridor Salt Lake County passed an ordinance in 1944 that established a Jordan River Meander Corridor. The ordinance established the boundaries of the Jordan River's natural meander pattern, and sets limits on the types of development and land uses that can occur within the designated corridor. This effort follows closely on the heels of the county Jordan River Stability Study, published in December 1992. That study defined the Jordan River as "... continually undergoing the processes of bank erosion, long- term channel bed degradation, bridge scour, sediment deposition and meander migration." In addition to reducing the flooding potential along the river, the establishment of a meander corridor should have a very positive impact upon wildlife and the environment, as the river is allowed to take a more natural sinuous course and the stream banks are allowed to stabilize. Many of the cities that border the Jordan River ( Salt Lake City, Midvale, West Jordan, West Valley City, South Jordan, Riverton and Bluffdale), are developing their own management plans for the Jordan River within their city boundaries. Many of these city plans reflect the county's efforts to establish 14- 5 |