Accomplishments to Date September 15, 2015 2015 Since its inception in 2012, the JRC s Volunteer Program has logged over 11,000 volunteer hours, a value of $346,000 in donated labor and materials. Partnered with the Utah Division of Forestry Fire and State Lands to initiate development of the State s first Comprehensive Management Plan for the Jordan River. Co-hosted the 3 rd Annual Evening at Utah Lake dinner to introduce state legislators to the issues and opportunities facing the Jordan River and Utah Lake. Received a $12,400 invasive species management grant funding for puncturevine control. Secured a $1,000,000 appropriation from the Utah State Legislature for improvements to Utah Lake and the Jordan River. These funds are supporting a challenge grant program open to our member governments and partners to complete projects that help implement the Blueprint Jordan River vision. Hosting the JRC s fourth technical training seminar for local land use managers, Integrating Wildlife and People in an Urban Environment, on March 27, 2015. Awarded a $136,000 water quality grant to study the effect of water flow on low dissolved oxygen levels in the Jordan River. Hosted the second annual Get Into the River Festival, which raised $60,0000 in sponsorships and engaged 500 volunteers on a single day along the river, and included 13 community events and festivals. Partnering on the development of a signage plan that establishes a consistent themes and designs for wayfinding, informational, and interpretive signage along the entire Jordan River Parkway. The city of South Jordan joined the Jordan River Commission. The JRC expanded its staff to include a part-time Executive Assistant. 2014 Lobbied the Utah State Legislature to help secure $350,000 in funding to mitigate a drowning hazard for boaters on the Jordan River at Winchester Street in Murray. Helped raise over $60,000 in sponsorships and plan and host the 1 st annual Get Into the River festival a two-day festival to celebrate and protect the Jordan River corridor. This festival included 800 volunteers, 18 service projects, eight community celebrations, and 30 community planning partners. Received a $138,000 grant from the Division of Water Quality for cleanup, restoration and community education along the Lower Jordan River. Received a $50,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for restoration, cleanup and school outreach on a stormwater detention pond in West Valley City. Received a $12,400 grant for puncturevine weed management along the Jordan River Parkway Trail using biological control (insects that are natural predators to the weed). Grand opening of the Jordan River Parkway Trail 9000 South trail segment, which included a new pedestrian tunnel and two new pedestrian bridges a partnership among West Jordan, Sandy City, Midvale, Salt Lake County, the Jordan River Commission, the National Park Service and local engineering firm, McNeil Engineering.
Launched a new mobile website, www.myjordanriver.org, that educates the community about the Jordan River corridor, and provide a forum for local governments and community members to share photos, and other information about the Jordan River. Planned and hosted three technical training seminars as part of the Best Practices for Riverfront Communities Training Series. Past and planned training topics include: Conservation Subdivision Design, Transfer of Development Rights, Streambank Soil Bioengineering, Stormwater Management, Integrating Habitat Restoration and Recreation, Watchable Wildlife, Invasive Vegetation Management. Designed and printed 4,000 pocket field guides for native and invasive species commonly seen along the Jordan River corridor. Initiated the development of a Jordan River Corridor Invasive Vegetation Management Plan that can be used by all local governments, landowners, and land managers along the river. The city of Riverton joined the Jordan River Commission. The JRC expanded its staff to include a part-time Program and Policy Planner, and a part-time Volunteer and Conservation Coordinator. 2013 Lobbied the Utah State Legislature to allow for the use of eminent domain for regional trail systems, provide ongoing funding for the LeRay McAllister Critical Land Fund, kill a bill that would severely limit the ability of private landowners to place conservation easements on their own property, and to modify proposed bill language that would eliminate a local government s ability to require revegetation of land under a 12% slope and result in severe water quality impacts. Awarded a $60,000 EPA Urban Waters Small Grant for development of a Jordan River environmental educational program and digital trail guide. Working with the Center for Documentary Expression and Art to implement a Jordan River based curriculum at local high schools, called Reawakened Beauty. To date, this program has involved seven high schools and reached 500 students. Begun working with the City of West Jordan, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and the Utah Reclamation and Mitigation Commission to raise funds and partners for research, design, and implementation of the Big Bend Bird Habitat Restoration Area - an ambitious, 70-acre restoration project that aims to restore river meanders and reconnect the river with its floodplain. To date, $143,300 has been raised for project design, invasive vegetation management, and preliminary restoration work. Built a partnership with Splore and Wells Fargo to conduct six in-river trash clean-ups in 2013 totaling 190 volunteer hours. Expanded the JRC website to include an events calendar, grant deadlines, a library of technical resources and funding opportunities to assist local governments and river stakeholders in implementing the Blueprint Jordan River vision. Secured $84,000 in grants for invasive species management along the Jordan River Parkway Trail and local government open space properties. Published the two-time, award-winning Best Practices for Riverfront Communities toolbox. This document serves as a how-to guide for implementing the guiding principles of the Blueprint Jordan River. Established the Jordan River Commission Small Grants Program, which provides up to $2,500 to JRC member governments or community partners for projects that help to implement the Blueprint Jordan River. Grantees have included the cities of South Salt Lake, Saratoga Springs, TreeUtah, Tracy Aviary, the Sorenson Unity Center, and the Center for Documentary Expression and Art. The City of West Jordan joined the Jordan River Commission.
Produced, with the Center for Documentary Expression and Art, an educational newspaper insert about the future opportunities for the Jordan River, which was circulated in every issue of the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News on November 17, 2013. 2012 Salt Lake City joined the Jordan River Commission. Utah State Senate resolution passed allowing the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to participate in the Jordan River Commission. DEQ joined the commission shortly thereafter. Secured the donation of over $150,000 in engineering, and geotechnical analysis for a new pedestrian tunnel under 9000 South from the University of Utah s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. Received a $275,000 grant from the Division of Water Quality for creation of Best Practices for Riverfront Communities to serve as a toolbox for local governments as they develop their own riparian corridor policies and regulations. Secured a $15,000 donation from Wasatch Front Rotary Clubs to build the final bridge across the Jordan River needed to complete the 45-mile Jordan River Parkway Trail. Developed a promotional video designed to build public support for Jordan River corridor stewardship, and promote the incorporation of the Jordan River into future economic development efforts. Being shared by the Governor s Office of Economic Development, Visit Salt Lake, the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, and more. Worked with the University of Utah s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering to develop tools and Model Designs for Stormwater Management in the Jordan River Watershed. Lead 600 volunteers in weed pulls, trash pick-ups, and river clean-ups. Lobbied the Salt Lake County Council to place the Regional Parks and Trails Bond on the November 2012 ballot, and to educate voters on the improvement the bond would fund. This was approved by voters with 56% of the vote, and provides $11.5 million in funding to help complete the Jordan River Parkway Trail. 2011 The City of Saratoga Springs and the Utah Transit Authority joined the Jordan River Commission. Expanded the Governing Board membership to include representatives from the Utah State Legislature and Governor s office, and seven Ex-officio members (Rocky Mountain Power, Chevron, Zion s Bank, Jordan River Foundation, Ms. Jenny Wilson, TreeUtah and the Wasatch Rowing Foundation). Formed a 40-person Technical Advisory Committee. Helped to secure a $1.1 million legislative request to help complete a pedestrian tunnel under 9000 South for the Jordan River Parkway Trail. Applied for and received a NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Grant to design and produce the first-ever trail map of the Jordan River Parkway Trail. Partnered with Salt Lake County and received a $10,000.00 Grazing Improvement Program Grant, which funded projects focused on invasive weed awareness and management, and purchased volunteer tools and supplies. Led 1,300 volunteers in weed pulling events along the Jordan River Parkway with an estimated value of $116,000 in donated labor and materials. Hired the Jordan River Commission s first Executive Director. August - December 2010
Creation of the Jordan River Commission o Initial signing of the Interlocal Agreement included three counties (Utah, Davis and Salt Lake Counties), seven cities (West Valley City, Sandy, Taylorsville, North Salt Lake, South Salt Lake, Draper and Cottonwood Heights), and the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District.
Jordan River Commission Media Coverage Jordan River Parkway Trail Completion: o http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/51715274-78/jordan-river-west-johnson.html.csp o http://archive.westjordanjournal.com/pages/full_story/15874/closing-the-gap-on-jordan-river- Parkway/ o http://www.cyclingutah.com/advocacy/salt-lake-county-parks-and-trails-bond-passes-ensurescompletion-of-jordan-river-parkway-and-pratt-trail/ o http://www.midvalejournal.com/pages/full_story/11690/jordan-river-trail-section-completethrough-sandy/ o http://archive.sandyjournal.com/pages/full_story/12818/-new-section-extends-the-jordan-river- Trailo http://www.saltcycle.org/2012/03/new-paved-section-of-jordan-river.html Get Into the River Festival: o 2014 Two-Day Festival to Focus on the Jordan River Upcoming Festival will Celebrate the Jordan River South Salt Lake To Host Activities along the Jordan River 800 Volunteers Clean and Improve the Jordan River Fox 13 Volunteers, including homeless, clean up along Jordan River Event celebrates near completion of the Jordan River Parkway Trail o 2015 http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865628708/volunteers-help-clean-jordan-rivertrail.html?pg=all https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/ get-on-the-river-festival-brings-many-out-toenjoy/35783/c5u15h2aw0c1aqtmhfytjq&ct=ga&cd=caeyacoumta0mdizmjg1ntu2m DU5NzUwODUyGjA4YWExZDMxYmM3YTQ4Yzc6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNEHQ76mU0 y2mjcnd0qoo_wc8upy7w http://www.sltrib.com/news/2567161-155/utah-weekend-forecast-highs-in-the http://s3.amazonaws.com/tveyesmediacenter/usercontent/240499/4897103.8949/kst U_05-30-2015_16.15.38.mp4 Restoration and Trail Maintenance Efforts: o http://archive.westjordanjournal.com/pages/full_story/16414/restoration-project-begins-along- Jordan-River o Page 19 - http://www.cyclingutah.com/bicycle-news-headlines/cycling-utahs-august-2013-issue-isnow-available/ o http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/57026350-78/habitat-jordan-restore-river.html.csp o Education Efforts: o www.myjordanriver.org Mobile Website: http://blog.epa.gov/ej/2014/06/jordan-river/ http://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=27827598&itype=storyid o Jordan River Parkway Trail Map: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865559927/free-maps-of-jordan-river-parkway- Trail-available.html?pg=all
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54608573-78/map-lake-river-salt.html.csp http://www.saltcycle.org/2012/07/jordan-river-parkway-trail-map-released.html http://kuer.org/post/maps-available-jordan-river-parkway-trail http://www.mywestvalleyjournal.com/full_story/9794/jordan-river-parkway-map-willprovide-free-information-about-available-recreation/ http://www.heraldextra.com/news/state-and-regional/grant-to-aid-in-jordan-riverparkway-map/article_63a516a0-dd7c-56d2-9d56-a1dae76b3043.html http://www.southsaltlakejournal.com/pages/full_story/9905/there s-a-map-for-that:- local-trail-information-available-in-time-for-spring/ http://www.travelheadlines.utah.com/2012/08/jordan-river-parkway-trail-systemmap.html o Best Practices for Riverfront Communities toolbox: http://www.rivernetwork.org/blog/11/2014/03/03/bestpracticesguide http://upr.org/post/jordan-river-stakeholders-meet-and-discuss-use-future http://kcpw.org/blog/local-news/2012-07-31/leaders-to-decide-best-jordan-rivermanagement-principles/ http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705388994/jordan-river-cleanup-monumental-butnot-impossible.html?pg=all o Reawakened Beauty School Curriculum: http://www.sltrib.com/news/1825009-155/river-jordan-heritage-pacific-studentscommission http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865615582/students-install-wildlife-grove-on- Jordan-River.html?pg=all http://kuer.org/post/salt-lake-city-school-works-revitalize-jordan-river http://www.sltrib.com/news/1314735-158/river-jordan-effort-lake-salt-students General News Stories: o http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=11858347 o http://kcpw.org/blog/cityviews/2012-08-05/cityviews-8612-local-economicsolympic-wrap/ o http://comcastnewsmakers.com/video/jordan-river-commission/ o http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705368676/new-director-named-for-jordan-river- Commission.html?pg=all o http://kcpw.org/blog/local-news/2011-03-15/hanson-gives-jordan-river-commission-direction/ o http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/51430385-76/jordan-river-commission-director.html.csp o http://utahwomenofwater.blogspot.com/2013/08/wow-salutes-jordan-river-commission.html o http://www.sunset.com/travel/top-10-city-bike-rides/page3 o http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705326592/a-new-vision-for-the-jordan-river.html o http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700046083/west-valley-city-enters-jordan-river- Commission.html?pg=all o http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700086488/jordan-river-commission-chairmannamed.html?pg=all o http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700129701/commission-advises-people-not-to-recreate-onthe-jordan-river-following-wednesdays-near-tragedy.html?pg=all o http://archive.sltrib.com/printfriendly.php?id=8979652&itype=storyid o http://archive.sltrib.com/printfriendly.php?id=10496769&itype=storyid