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Show Salt Lake City Watershed Management Plan ' 99 Burr Fork Canyons primarily from snow melt. The average annual yield is 4,939 acre- feet, the sixth highest in the plan area. Stream flows peak early each year, May 1 on the average, due to the low elevation and width of the canyon. Flows normally recede quickly during July and August reaching the yearly low by September, then slowly increase throughout the winter months. Canyon Uses: Emigration Canyon has an extensive history of use. The canyon's recent primary use has been full- time residential with limited commercial development. Some hiking occurs in the canyon, but no developed trail heads or related facilities have been constructed. Automobile transportation in the canyon is intensive. The highway through the canyon provides access for canyon residents and a right- of- way to Parleys and East Canyons. Residential development during the past decade has increased, though not boomed compared with other areas in Salt Lake County. Figures from the 1988 Management Plan projected a six- unit per- year increase, an annual increase of approximately 2.5 percent. In 1990, there were 308 dwelling units in the canyon, and in 1998, there were 447 dwelling units. This represents a 15- unit per- year increase, an approximate 4.8 percent annual increase, which is almost twice the increase expected. D. Parleys Canyon Physical and Hydrologic Conditions: Parleys Canyon is the largest drainage in the plan area comprising 50.1 square miles. Unlike the other drainages in the plan area, Parleys is " T" shaped, with elevations ranging from 4,700 feet to 9,400 feet. Above Mountain Dell Reservoir, rolling foothills and moderate slopes characterizes the canyon. Below the reservoir, the canyon is narrow with steep slopes. The lower portion of the canyon has been radically modified by the construction of the 1- 80 freeway. Surface stream flow and spring runoff for Parleys Creek originates from Mountain Dell Canyon and Lambs Canyons. The average annual yield is 18,131 acre- feet, the third highest in the plan area. Parleys Creek reaches its peak flows early in the season, May 12 on the average. This is attributed to the relatively low elevation of the canyon and its width. Flows commonly increase tenfold within a matter of days during June then slowly decrease through the late summer and fall. Flows begin a gradual increase again throughout the winter. Canyon Uses: Recreation homes, transportation and recreation use characterize uses in this area. Summer cabins have been constructed in Mount Aire and Lambs Canyons. Six lanes of 1- 80 follow the entire length of the canyon serving as a major artery for local Page 7 |