Water quality has been of interest since early settlers came to the Central Wasatch. Below are some newspaper reports about watershed issues related to water quality and forest disturbance that led to restoration and preservation efforts (courtesy of USFS).
1847
Pioneers arrive in the Salt Lake Valley and begin to harvest trees in the canyons and to heavily graze cattle and sheep within Wasatch watersheds
August, 1880
Overgrazing activities are impacting water quality of Wasatch streams
July, 1889
Municipal governments speak to the need for improved quality water from the Wasatch watersheds
August, 1889
An assessment is made on water availability from Wasatch watersheds
October, 1899
Overgrazing has led to contamination of Parley’s Creek
March, 1900
Efforts emerge regarding the need to preserve Wasatch watershed water rights
December, 1900
A plan is needed for watershed preservation of the Wasatch Mountains
February, 1901
A request is made to establish a forest preserve in the Wasatch Mountains
Deseret News, 2/13/1901
June, 1901
Further efforts are taken to establish a forest preserve in the Wasatch Mountains
December, 1901
Federal legislation is introduced to protect Wasatch watersheds
September, 1903
Critical federal legislation to protect Wasatch watersheds is refined
1904
Federal government establishes Wasatch National Forest
June, 1905
Big Cottonwood nursery is established to revegetate Wasatch watersheds
September, 1905
USFS establishes nursery in Big Cottonwood Canyon
Salt Lake Herald, 9/3/1905
September, 1905
Local and federal leaders agree on the need to re-establish forests
September, 1905
Plans are introduced to improve water quality
Salt Lake Herald, 9/10/1905
September, 1905
USFS Chief speaks on forest re-establishment and the need to eliminate grazing
Deseret News, 9/9/1905
September, 1905
Salt Lake City and USFS introduce plans to protect Wasatch watersheds
October, 1905
Conditions deemed favorable for establishment of a Big Cottonwood Canyon nursery
Deseret News, 10/18/1905
Many conifers are considered, including Utah red pine, Engelmann spruce, Douglas fir, western yellow pine, ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, and larch.
November, 1905
Removing grazing is critical to watershed recovery
November, 1905
Salt Lake City mayor offers plant to improve Wasatch watersheds
Salt Lake Herald, 11/22/1905
December, 1905
Salt Lake City moves to protect Big Cottonwood Canyon watershed
September, 1907
Big Cottonwood nursery is underway with 300,000 seedlings
January, 1908
Reforestation plans are made to expand into Parley’s Canyon
January, 1908
USFS reforesting and watershed polices benefit all citizens
Salt Lake Herald, 1/13/1908
December, 1908
Identifying planting sites for 3,000,000 tree seedlings
December, 1909
How the USFS policies and conservation help Utah citizens
Deseret News, 12/18/1909
April, 1914
Planting trees is underway
1921
Wasatch nursery is closed and Community Camp is created in its place
1935
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) adds campsites, baseball field, and other sport activities to Community Camp
1936
Ski jump and toboggan run are added to Community Camp, thanks to Alf Engen (project manager)
1942
100 years of water development along the Wasatch Front
About 1950