Save Our Canyons

WHY WE EXIST

Save Our Canyons is dedicated to protecting the beauty and wildness of the Wasatch Mountains. We are a member-driven organization made up of year-round outdoor enthusiasts working to ensure a healthy future for this unique range. Join us!

Save Our Canyons has been at the forefront of efforts to stop controversial developments that would forever alter the naturalness of the Wasatch and negatively backcountry recreation, diminish the suitability of wilderness quality lands, and harm sensitive habitats. 

In addition to playing successful defense, Save Our Canyons also has an impressive track record of seeing our conservation proposals realized as designated wilderness with Lone Peak, Twin Peaks, Mt. Olympus, Mt. Naomi, Mount Timpanogos, and Mt. Nebo Wilderness areas.  In 2017 Save Our Canyons helped to raise money to save Bonanza Flat, 1,350 acres high in the Wasatch Mountains located in Summit County.

PROJECTS IMPACTING SUMMIT COUNTY 

No Gondola in Little Cottonwood Canyon

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) issued the Record of Decision (ROD) in July identifying Gondola Alternative B with Phased Implementation as the selected alternative for Little Cottonwood Canyon. UDOT will implement the selected alternative in phases, starting with components of the Enhanced Bus Service Alternative and ending with the world’s longest gondola up Little Cottonwood Canyon. Full implementation of Gondola B depends on available funding. 

UDOT is asking Utah taxpayers to foot the bill for a gondola that serves two private businesses and their patrons (those who can afford to and choose to ride). The gondola is estimated at $ 1.4 billion dollars of taxpayer money. While the gondola does not go into Summit County, the residents living along the Wasatch Back will be paying for it.

Protect Parley’s Canyon

In November 2021, Tree Farm LLC filed an application with the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining (DOGM) to open a 634-acre limestone quarry in Parley’s Canyon. Tree Farm later hired Granite Construction to help manage the mine. Turning 634 acres of incredible wilderness in Parley’s Canyon into a giant gravel pit would drastically impact Summit County.

Wind Speed

In its analysis, the DAQ used wind data from the Salt Lake International Airport, instead of wind data from Parley’s Canyon. The proposed gravel pit will be at the mouth of the canyon, where steep walls and nighttime down-canyon flows create higher wind speeds. This quality of air will impact both Summit County and Salt Lake County residents.

Water Availability

Water is a key component of dust mitigation. Spraying water on exposed dirt can minimize blowing dust, which pollutes our lungs and airshed. To our knowledge, this project does not have access to a water source for dust mitigation. According to estimates, the proposed 20-acre gravel pit could require upwards of 20,000,000 gallons of water each year for dust mitigation. The water will likely be diverted from the Great Salt Lake, exposing more lake bed and magnifying the effect of dust blowing from the dry lake bed and the newly created gravel pit. 

If water is not available onsite, then water must be trucked in. Trucks hauling in millions of gallons of water would create significant emissions that would further pollute our airshed. Those trucks could go up Weber Canyon or from Evanston, WY through Kimball Junction and down to the mining operation or directly up Parley’s Canyons, depending on the location of the water.

Wildlife

Parley’s Canyon is a major wildlife migration corridor. The 634-acre mining operation will drastically impact that. The elk, moose, birds, etc. that move between Summit County and SLC County will be impacted by this project.

In the last few weeks/months Save Our Canyons has also been working on:

1. Working to advance the Mountain Accord, with the Central Wasatch Commission which is a priority of both Park City and Summit County, regarding the protection of source water and protection of public lands used by and within Summit County.
2. Supporting the management, protection, and stewardship of the 910 Ranch an 8,576-acre property north of Jeremy Ranch
3. Working to reduce fuels in the Wasatch Mountains and reduce the fire threat and intensity in the Wasatch National Forest, which immediately abuts (and threatens) many Summit County communities.