Provo River Project

   The Provo River Project provides a supplemental water supply for irrigation of 48,156 acres of highly developed farmlands in Utah, Salt Lake, and Wasatch Counties, as well as an assured domestic water supply for Salt Lake City, Provo, Orem, Pleasant Grove, Lindon, American Fork, and Lehi, Utah. The key structure of the project, Deer Creek Dam, is located on the Provo River east of the project lands. Other major structures are the powerplant at the dam, the 42-mile Salt Lake Aqueduct and Terminal Reservoir, Weber-Provo Diversion Canal, Duchesne Tunnel, Murdock Diversion Dam, Provo Reservoir Canal Enlargement, Jordan Narrows Siphon and Pumping Plant, and the South Lateral. The Salt Lake Aqueduct and Terminal Reservoir make up the Aqueduct Division; all other features are included in the Deer Creek Division.

Plan

   The Deer Creek Reservoir stores Provo River floodwater, surplus water of the Weber River diverted by the enlarged Weber-Provo Diversion Canal, and surplus water from the headwaters of the Duchesne River diverted by the 6-mile Duchesne Tunnelevation Releases from the reservoir for the Aqueduct Division are diverted at the dam into the Salt Lake Aqueduct, which carries water to a point near Salt Lake City to supple ment the city's supply.

   The Provo Reservoir Canal takes water from the Provo River at the Murdock Diversion Dam, about 7 miles downstream of the storage dam. This 23-mile-long canal serves the 46,609 acres in the Deer Creek Division. The Jordan Narrows Siphon and Pumping Plant furnishes water from the Provo Reservoir Canal and Jordan River to lands on the west side of Utah Lake and the Jordan River. The South Lateral delivers water supplies from the Jordan Narrows pump to the area south of the pump and west of the Jordan River. Deer Creek Powerplant generates 4,950 kilowatts of power.

Deer Creek Dam and Reservoir

   Deer Creek Dam is located on the Provo River about 16 miles northeast of Provo, Utah. It is a zoned earthfill structure 235 feet high with a crest length of 1,304 feet. The dam contains 2,810,000 cubic yards of material and forms a reservoir of 152,700 acre-foot capacity. The spillway is a concrete chute at the right abutment controlled by two radial gates. The capacity of the spillway is 12,000 cubic feet per second. The outlet works through the left abutment is a concrete-lined tunnel from the trashrack to the gate chamber, where two steel pipes lead to the powerplant. Releases are controlled by two tube valves. The outlet works has a capacity of 1,500 cubic feet per second.

Collection System

   The principal features of the collection system are the Duchesne Diversion Dam, Duchesne Tunnel, Weber-Provo Diversion Dam, and Weber-Provo Diversion Canal. The Duchesne Diversion Dam is on the North Fork of the Duchesne River, about 30 miles east of Heber City, Utah. The dam is a rockfill weir, concrete-core wall structure, 23 feet high, with a weir crest length of 270 feet. The 600-cubic-foot-per-second Duchesne Tunnel, which carries water from the diversion dam to the Provo River drainage basin, is horseshoe-shaped, concrete-lined, 9.25 feet in diameter, and 6 miles long.

   The Weber-Provo Diversion Dam and Canal, originally a part of the Weber River Project, have been enlarged to supply water from the Weber River to the Deer Creek Reservoir on the Provo River. The dam, located 1 mile east of Oakley, Utah, is a concrete ogee overflow weir with embankment wings, and has a hydraulic height of 19 feet. The canal has a capacity of 1,000 cubic feet per second and a length of 9 miles, consisting of unlined, earth-lined, and concrete-lined sections.

Aqueduct Division

   The principal feature of the Aqueduct Division is the Salt Lake Aqueduct, a 69-inch-diameter concrete pipeline 41.7 miles long, with a capacity of 150 cubic feet per second. Through this pipeline flows the domestic water supply for Salt Lake City. Two tunnels are a part of the aqueduct: The concrete-lined, 78-inch-diameter, horseshoe-shaped Alpine-Draper Tunnel which is 15,037 feet long; and the Olmstead Tunnel, identical in cross section with the Alpine-Draper Tunnel, but 3,614 feet long. The concrete terminal reservoir, with a capacity of 122.8 acre-feet, completes the system.

Deer Creek Division

   Deer Creek Division structures include Murdock Diversion Dam, a concrete ogee weir structure, 22 feet high; Provo Reservoir Canal, with a diversion capacity of 550 cubic feet per second and a total length of 23 miles, consisting of unlined and concrete-lined sections; the 65-cubic-foot-per-second capacity Jordan Narrows Pumping Plant; and the South Lateral, with a capacity of 40 cubic feet per second and a length of about 4 miles.

Deer Creek Powerplant

   The powerplant was constructed on the substructure provided during the construction of Deer Creek Dam, has two 2,475-kilowatt generators, and was placed in operation in 1958.

Development

Early History

   The first written report concerning this territory was made by John C. Fremont in the account of his expedition of 1843. General William H. Ashley led a party of fur traders into the West from St. Louis in the spring of 1822, and in 1825 established a trading post at Utah Lake known as Fort Ashley. The Provo River and the city of Provo are said to have been named after a trapper named Provost who was in the vicinity of Utah Lake as early as 1820. In March 1849, a group went southward from Salt Lake with the intention of establishing a colony on the Provo River. The settlement, started at a place called Old Fort Field, is now within the city limits of Provo. A fort was built and crops planted: over 200 acres were plowed the first year for wheat, rye, and corn. In August 1850, settlements were made at American Fork, Lehi, and Pleasant Grove.

Investigations

   Utah Lake supplied irrigation water for some areas in the Salt Lake Valley; however, during the drought years 1931-35, storage in Utah Lake fell from 850,000 to 20,000 acre-feet. It became apparent that construction of the Provo River Project was essential to provide an adequate water supply. The project plan resulted from extensive investigations conducted at various times after 1922 by the Bureau of Reclamation in cooperation with the Water Storage Commission of Utah. The desperate water shortage experienced by Salt Lake City in the 1930's and the consequent request to the Government for assistance in obtaining a dependable water supply for Salt Lake Valley gave rise to a concerted effort to obtain approval of the Provo River Project. The city of Provo and five other communities in Utah County, as well as Salt Lake City, all needing additional domestic water supplies, joined with the irrigation interests to sponsor the project.

Authorization

   Construction of the project was initiated under the provisions of the National Industrial Recovery Act of June 16, 1933, and approved by the President on November 16, 1935, under the terms of subsection B of section 4 of the act of December 5, 1924 (43 Stat. 701). The Salt Lake Aqueduct was approved by the President on October 24, 1938. Deer Creek Powerplant was found feasible and authorized by the Secretary of the Interior on August 20, 1951, under the Reclamation Project Act of 1939.

Construction

   Construction of the project began in May 1938, the first water becoming available in 1941 upon the completion of Deer Creek Dam. Construction of some features of the project was severely hampered by wartime scarcities of manpower, materials, and funds. Work on the Duchesne Tunnel had to be stopped in 1942, although construction continued on a small scale on the canal system and Salt Lake Aqueduct. In 1947, full-scale construction was resumed. Construction of features of the Aqueduct Division was started in 1939 and completed in 1951. The Deer Creek Powerplant was completed in 1958.

Operating Agencies

   All features of the Deer Creek Division are operated and maintained by the Provo River Water Users Association. The Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake City operates and maintains the aqueduct system. The Western Area Power Administration, CRSP Management Center, maintains Project switchyard facilities and markets the power output from the powerplant.

Benefits

Irrigation

   A supplemental water supply has been provided for 48,156 acres of highly developed farmlands, thus assuring maturity of valuable crops. Principal crops are alfalfa, grain, peaches, apples, pears, sugar beets, and canning crops. such as sweet corn, peas. and tomatoes.

Municipal and Industrial Water

   Municipal and industrial water service is provided for the metropolitan water districts of Salt Lake City, Provo, Orem, Pleasant Grove, Lewiston, American Fork, and Lehi. An average annual amount of 73,454 acre-feet is delivered to 343,345 people.

Recreation

   Deer Creek Reservoir is on the Provo River about 16 miles northeast of Provo, Utah. Because a main highway crosses the dam, many visitors see the dam and reservoir during the year. The reservoir provides boating and excellent fishing in season, primarily for perch and native, rainbow, and brown trout. Two boat concessions, each with boats to rent to the public, are located on the shore of the reservoir. Camping, swimming, boating, water skiing, and other forms of recreational use have increased dramatically. The Utah State Division of Parks and Recreation has administering responsibility. A new boat launching ramp, camp, and picnic facilities have been provided. Total visitation to the reservoir during 1977 was 426,290 recreation days.

Project Data

Land Areas (1977)

Irrigable area:

Supplemental irrigation service - 48,136 acres

Number of irrigated farms - 1,767

Facilities in Operation

Storage dams - 1

Diversion dams - 4

Canals - 32 miles

Aqueducts - 41.7 miles

Laterals - 3.8 miles

Pumping plants - 1

Powerplants - 1

Transmission lines - 0.4 mile

Substations - 1

Climatic Conditions

Annual precipitation - 15.8 inches

Temperature:

Maximum - 110 °F

Minimum - -35 °F

Mean - 49 °F

Growing Season - 124 days

Elevation of irrigable area - 4,630.0 feet

Settlement

Number of persons served with project water (1977):

Farm irrigation service - 7,345 acres

Urban, suburban, and industrial service - 336,000 acres

Total - 343,345 acres

Engineering Data

Water Supply

Provo Rover¹

Drainage area at Vivian Park - 560 square miles

Annual discharge at Vivian Park:

Maximum (1932) - 427,639 acre-feet

Minimum (1942) - 230,000 acre-feet

Average - 265,900 acre-feet

Duchesne River

Drainage area at Duchesne Tunnel - 39 square miles

Annual discharge at Duchesne Tunnel:

Maximum (1950) - 52,950 acre-feet

Minimum (1931) - 23,600 acre-feet

Average - 39,910 acre-feet

Weber River

Drainage area 2.6 miles upstream from Weber Provo Diversion Canal heading - 163 square miles

Annual discharge at 2.6 miles upstream from Weber-Provo Diversion Canal heading:

Maximum (1909) - 294,000 acre-feet

Minimum (1934) - 56,050 acre-feet

Average - 159,400 acre-feet

Average annual diversion (all sources) - 210,750 acre-feet

¹ Natural flow including transmountain diversions and Salt Lake Aqueduct diversions.

Storage Facilities

Deer Creek Dam

Type: Zoned earthfill

Location: On the Provo River 16 miles north east of Provo, Utah.

Construction period: 1938-41

Date of closure (first storage): 1941

Reservoir, Deer Creek:

Average annual inflow, 1942-53 - 260,400 acre-feet

Total capacity to elevation 5,417 - 152,700 acre-feet

Active capacity, elevation 5,303-5,417 - 149,700 acre-feet

Surface area - 2,683 acres

Dimensions:

Structural height - 235 feet

Hydraulic height - 155 feet

Top width - 35 feet

Maximum base width - 1,000 feet

Crest length - 1,304 feet

Crest elevation - 5425.0 feet

Total volume - 2,810,000 cubic yards

Spillway: Concrete crest and concrete-lined chute in right abutment, controlled by two 21- by 20-foot radial gates.

Elevation top of gates - 5,417.0 feet

Crest elevation - 5,397.0 feet

Capacity at elevation 5,417 - 12,000 cubic feet per second

Outlet works: Concrete-lined tunnel through left abutment controlled by two 52-inch tube valves in powerplant substructure at outlet end.

Capacity at elevation 5,417 - 1,500 cubic feet per second

Foundation: Interbedded clay, sand, and gravel overlying alternating strata of slightly broken but firm sandstone and limestone.

Special treatment: Cement grout curtain beneath cutoff walls; supplemental grouting of abutments.

Diversion Facilities

Duchesne Diversion Dam

Type: Rockfill weir, concrete-core wall

Location: On the North Fork, Duchesne River. about 30 miles east of Heber, Utah.

Year completed: 1952

Dimensions:

Structural height - 23 feet

Hydraulic height - 17 feet

Weir crest length - 270 feet

Total crest length - 480 feet

Weir crest elevation - 8,109.73 feet

Volume - 10,000 cubic yards

Sluiceway: Concrete gated structure, one 10-by 13-foot radial gate, at right abutment of dam.

Headworks: Diverts directly into Duchesne Tunnel through tunnel intake at right abutment of dam.

Diversion capacity - 600 cubic feet per second

Murdock Diversion Dam

Type: Concrete ogee weir, embankment wing

Location: On the Provo River, about 6 miles north of Provo, Utah.

Year completed: 1950

Dimensions:

Structural height - 22 feet

Hydraulic height - 19 feet

Weir crest length - 100 feet

Total crest length - 370 feet

Weir crest elevation - 4,885.5 feet

Volume - 9,000 cubic yards

Sluiceway: Concrete gate structure, one 16- by 14-foot radial gate at left side of dam.

Headworks: Concrete, one 16- by 13-foot radial gate. Revolving fish screen 40 feet upstream from gate.

Diversion capacity - 550 cubic feet per second

Weber-Provo Diversion Dam

Type: Concrete ogee weir, embankment wings

Location: On the Weber River about 1 mile east of Oakley, Utah.

Year completed: 1930

Dimensions:

Structural height - 25 feet

Hydraulic height - 19 feet

Weir crest length - 150 feet

Total crest length - 1,795 feet

Weir crest elevation - 6,488.55 feet

Volume - 15,000 cubic yards

Sluiceway: Adjacent to left end of overflow section, controlled by two 5-by 6-foot slide gates.

Headworks: Concrete, six 5- by 6-foot slide gates, at right angles to dam and adjacent to sluiceway.

Diversion capacity - 1,000 cubic feet per second

Broadhead Diversion Dam

Type: Concrete ogee weir, embankment wings

Location: On Broadhead Creek, about 23 miles east of Kamas, Utah.

Year completed: 1953, replaced 1964. ²

² Replaces previous Reclamation-constructed dam of the same name.

Dimensions:

Structural height - 8 feet

Hydraulic height - 5 feet

Weir crest length - 13 feet

Total crest length - 28 feet

Weir crest elevation - 8,198.0 feet

Volume - 700 cubic yards

Sluiceway: At left side of dam, controlled by 3-by 4-foot slide gate.

Headworks: 30-inch diameter precast concrete pipe, controlled by 30-inch diameter slide gate.

Diversion capacity - 22 cubic feet per second

Carriage Facilities

Duchesne Tunnel

Location: From point of diversion on the Duchesne River generally west 6 mi to a point about 14 mi east of Kamas, Utah.

Construction period: 1940-42

Concrete lined in 1949-52

Length - 6 miles

Capacity - 600 cubic feet per second

Cross section: Horseshoe

Diameter 9.23 feet

Lining: Concrete

Provo Reservoir Canal

Location: From Murdock Diversion Dam on the Provo River about 6 miles north of Provo, Utah, generally northwest 23 miles to a point about 6 miles south of Draper, Utah.

Construction period: Non-Reclamation construction. Enlarged by Reclamation in 1940-50.

Length - 23 miles

Diversion capacity - 530 cubic feet per second

Typical maximum section in earth:

Bottom width - 18 feet

Side slopes - 1.25:1

Water depth - 5.68 feet

Typical maximum section, concrete lined:

Bottom width - 14 feet

Side slopes - 1.25:1

Water depth - 4.34 feet

Lining thickness - 4 inches

Salt Lake Aqueduct

Location: From Deer Creek Dam generally southwest along the Provo River to a point 7 miles north of Provo. Utah, then generally north to Salt Lake City.

Construction period: 1939-51

Description: Concrete pipeline

Length - 41.7 miles

Diameter - 69 inches

Capacity - 150 cubic feet per second

Alpine-Draper Tunnel

Location: 20 miles northwest of Provo, Utah.

Construction period: 1938-41

Length - 15,037 feet

Capacity - 150 cubic feet per second

Cross section: Horseshoe

Diameter - 6.5 feet

Lining: Concrete

Olmsted Tunnel

Location: 7 miles north of Provo, Utah.

Construction period: 1938-41

Length - 3,614 feet

Capacity - 130 cubic feet per second

Cross section: Horseshoe

Diameter - 6.3 feet

Lining: Concrete

Thickness - 3-7 inches

Terminal Reservoir (Salt Lake Aqueduct)

Location: In the southeast portion of metropolitan Salt Lake City.

Description: The principal features of the Terminal Reservoir are the automatic wasteway, the Venturi meter structure and the chlorination and control house, the Sam Park Reservoir inlet control structure, ³ the two 61.4-acre-feet storage units, and the influent and effluent piping system.

³ Sam Park Reservoir built by private interests.

Dimensions (each storage unit):

Structural height - 30.3 feet

Top width - 271.8 feet

Top length - 418.8 feet

Side slopes - 1.3:1

Total concrete in storage units and appurtenant structures - 16,215 cubic yards

Weber-Provo Diversion Canal

Location: From the Weber River at a point about 1 mile east of Oakley, Utah, generally south 9 miles to the Provo River.

Construction period: Originally constructed in 1929-30 as a part of the Weber River Project. Enlarged in 1941-47 under the Provo River Project.

Length - 9 miles

Capacity - 1,000 cubic feet per second

Typical maximum section in earth:

Bottom width - 24 feet

Side slopes - 2:1

Water depth - 7.3 feet

Typical maximum section, concrete lined:

Bottom width - 12 feet

Side slopes - 1.75:1

Water depth - 6.37 feet

Lining thickness - 4 inches

Typical maximum section, compacted earth lining:

Bottom width - 24 feet

Sideslopes - 1.75:1

Water depth - 7.3 feet

Lining thickness on bottom - 2 feet

Measured horizontally, on sides - 8 feet

South Lateral

Location: From outlet Jordan Narrows Pumping Plant, generally south 3.8 miles

Construction period: 1949-50

Length - 3.8 miles

Capacity - 40 cubic feet per second

Typical maximum section in earth:

Bottom width - 6 feet

Side slopes - 1.3:1

Water depth - 2.2 feet

Typical maximum section, concrete lined:

Bottom width - 3 feet

Side slopes - 1.5:1

Water depth - 2.2 feet

Lining thickness - 4 inches

Jordan Narrows Pumping Plant

Number of units - 1

Total capacity - 65 cubic feet per second

Total dynamic head - 103 feet

Total horsepower - 1,050

Power Facilities

Deer Creek Powerplant

Location: At Deer Creek Dam.

Year of initial operation: 1958

Nameplate capacity - 4,950 kW

Number and capacity of generators: Two at 2,475 kW each

Maximum head - 140 feet

Gross generation (1977) - 24,580,000 kWh

Substations

Number in operation - 1

Total capacity of transformers - 6,250 kVA

Transmission Lines

Designation: Deer Creek Powerplant - Pacificorp, Utah Power Tie Line.

Capacity - 12.5 kV

Power capacity - 5,000 kW

Circuit miles - 0.4

Year placed in service - 1990

This web page was adapted from portions of a Bureau of Reclamation Project Data book dated May, 1981.