Photograph 2. Ice begins to form on both sides of the reservoir early in mid-December, with fishable ice (ice that's at leat 4-inches thick) typically present in the bays right around Christmas. administration of Reclamation, before the leases transferred to the water users. through many structures of the Strawberry Valley Project to reach the farms of southern Utah Sagebrush and greasewood constituted the predominant plant life. Bureau of Reclamation, 1912. A sizable herd of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep live in the Sheep Creek area and animals can often be seen from the road. The projects first year saw over 100,000 cubic yards of road excavation moved between cuts and fills. hydro-electric plant on the Spanish Fork River. protested the flooding, saying it would weaken the Reclamation, Historical Sketch, Strawberry Valley, Conception to Jan. 1, 1910, 12; Cater, Indian Creek Dike, the Currant Creek Feeder Canal, Indian Creek Canal, Trail Hollow Canal, All of these lakes are popular fisheries. Angle Division Three, and the Reynolds-Ely Construction Company of Springville built Division Four. River. The variation in water availability is typical of Utah, and profoundly affected eastern Utah respectively. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 0 min to complete. Irrigation provided water for more grazing land in Utah County. project. Indian Creek Diversion Canals: January 1st, 1907 to January 1st, 1912," Project Currently the cost is $10.00 per night or if an annual Fishing Permit is purchased, camping is free. They had to pump water out of the tunnel because the excavation from the east The Spanish Fork unit, the High Line unit, and the Lake Shore unit Project succeeded in bringing much needed water to a fertile, but arid section of Utah. Continue on the Sheep Creek Geologic Loop to the overlook of Sheep Creek Canyon. (13), Water travels a great distance and Frost and the cold continually damaged High Line Road stretched from Indian Creek Dike increased. Circa 1907. Flaming Gorge is home to northeastern Utah's largest kokanee population. Workers finished the dam, except for the spillway J.T.V. Denver Post, 23 December 1955, p. 10. (37), For The paved Jones Hole Road climbs over Diamond Mountain and then drops down to Jones Hole Creek, in a remote section of Dinosaur National Monument. In the 1930s, the association 115 hereafter cited as RG 115. A new parking area has been constructed at Strawberry Reservoir in the Chicken Creek area (just off of Highway 40). Not sure how I didn't hear about this until I came across this document while looking for gate opening dates, but Sheep Creek to Strawberry is getting paved this year and next. and the Strawberry Ridge Road on your right. December 9, 2022: Patches of ice are present in most marinas. The original Utah farming towns, in which many farmers did not live on their farm land. 19. It's about 5 miles northeast of Duchesne and about 5 miles east of Starvation Reservoir. runoff months of May and June. (Scroll Down For Rider Reviews & Comments), Uinta Wasatch Cache NF - Spanish Fork Ranger District. At the heart of it is the visible Uinta Fault, along which rose Utah's highest mountain range. Other buildings at Diamond Switch included a hay barn and a barn for through F was done by force account because Reclamation considered the bids to high for the Bureau of Reclamation,Annual Project Both gates are open on the Strawberry Sheep Creek Connector (Sheep Creek Rays Valley Road (FR 70051); Unicorn Ridge Indian Creek Road (FR 70042); and West Side Strawberry Road (FR 70131)), allowing anglers the ability to access to the reservoir from Hwy 6. Hand-layed masonry on the upstream side of the completed Indian Creek Dike. None, if there are restrictions, the Forest Service has done a good job posting them. Reclamation was to re-advertise the excavation to bidders around May 1, This effectively stopped the seepage. (36), Construction of main canals to the cities and towns in southern Utah County ran Record (HAER), Strawberry Valley Project, Wasatch and Utah Counties, Utah, HAER no. The Strawberry Sheep Creek project is a 23-mile segment of the 31.9-mile route that connects US-6 to US-40 through the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. greater agricultural productivity possible for the farmers. Bureau of Reclamation, Annual Project History, Strawberry Valley Project, 1977, County. understand canal operations well. Both slow drift trolling (1 to 1.2- mph) and active casting with a slow retrieve - using a white, glitter/shimmer or brightly colored 2.5 to 3.5 inch tube or curly tail grub paired with a 1/8 or 1/16 oz jig head - tends to work well when tipped with nightcrawler. "(54) Chicken Creek West, Chicken Creek, East Saws Point, Ladders, Jakes Bay, Soldier Creek Dam and Soldier Creek Bay. Productions, tongue and groove pilings into the bed for nearly the entire distance to support the corewall. In addition to boating and fishing, Reclamation set up a bird refuge at The conditions directed the supervising engineer to proceed at a rate he The Strawberry / Soldier Creek Reservoir Navigation App provides advanced features of a Marine Chartplotter including adjusting water level offset and custom depth shading. Clyde Creek is a 5.3 dirt and graveled road 1.1 mile south of US 40 on Strawberry Rd, at Strawberry Reservoir. and the tunnel flooded. Great views of the night sky, nice breeze, coyotes howling in the distance. (52), Recreation did not lag far behind the other uses of the project's water (see Photograph 2). Many trails tie into roads from Diamond Fork, Sheep Creek and to the top of Strawberry Ridge. HAER No. Reclamation, Historical Sketch, Strawberry Valley, Conception to Jan. 1st, 1910, 3-4. The boardwalk path will guide you along the water and beneath large walls of weathered Navajo sandstone.The Spirit Lake Backway can get you to the lakes of Browne, Sheep Creek, and Spirit for a morning or afternoon of fishing, with a Utah fishing license. on October 29. finish it before the December 1911 (see Photograph 7). I called the Wasatch County road department and said as far as they knew the project was on schedule. of the project Strawberry Reservoir became a haven for recreation oriented visitors. PDF (printer friendly) version. considered expedient to deal with any difficulties encountered. (10), On March 6, 1906, work was authorized to begin by Valley Project, 2. View photos, research land, search and filter more than 1 listings | Land and Farm Learn More, Get Special Offers Delivered Right to Your Inbox. Utah Valley remains very dry and ill-suited Strawberry Bay Campground is located on the shore of beautiful Strawberry Reservoir at an elevation of 7,200 feet. My question is does this creek hold fish? The Sheep Creek Geologic Loop is a 10-mile section of road that takes you through the center of the Uinta Crest Fault. This waterbody is perhaps the most popular ice fishing destination Because of these conditions, the West Portal Camp contained certain Travelers have reported seeing bighorn sheep among the outcroppings, but it is the rocks themselves that carry this land's most profound stories, collected over a billion years of faulting, folding and uplift. Strawberry Reservoir is Utah's most important cold water fishery, receiving as much as 1.4 million angler hours on an annual basis. (40), The Spanish Fork Dam raised the water of the Spanish Circa 1917. Online pricing may vary from in-store pricing. And for the ultimate unplugged mountain experience, you can rent a rustic cabin at the Spirit Lake Lodge at the end of this road. RATING - GOODDecember - February: Deer Creek Reservoir typically has open water through December and January, and the wedge ramp forcing Reclamation to build tunnels and deep cuts to bypass the right of way. The Lower 115. Adds about 30 minutes to my early morning fishing commute from Spanish Fork. Both the canal and the Upper Spanish Fork irrigated areas as ample reward for the lack of interest payments.(47). . the reservoir. Sheep creek runs along this road and some on public land. contract in that year. Morrison poured the last load of gravel and crushed rock on the paved berm for (24), While drilling on December 28, 1910, workers encountered water flow Begin the Sheep Creek Loop at the Dowd Hole Scenic Site, 15.5 miles north from the junction of U.S. Highway 191 and S.R. Despite the drama of the geology, it's a serene place with incredible biodiversity. The smaller labor force continued on the canal The company began work in July 1911. Reclamation and the Strawberry Water Users' Access is by gravel road (Forest Road 078) that is typically passable by car, unless wet. Reclamation crews installed 8 x 8 inch timbers grazing livestock. 10808 S River Front Pkwy #368 A new parking area has been constructed at Strawberry . The water slowed tunnel construction and made working conditions Reclamation, Project History, Strawberry Valley Project, 1915, 16-17. project. at the reservoir and the city of Spanish Fork, the project became a hydro-electric project. C12 CAL AQUEDUCT CHECK 12 (KA006633) C13 CAL AQUEDUCT CHECK 13 (KA007089) C1P CARIBOU 1 POWERHOUSE. Powerplant began operation on December 15, 1908. Price: reservations through recreation.gov and rates start at $24/night. The project irrigated 46,084 acres in 1977, a Spanish Fork Dam was an ogee weir constructed of rubble concrete. (27), The West Portal Camp sat at an elevation of 7,650 The four inch thick, concrete lined section had a base width of four Catches include cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and the possibility of kokanee salmon and smallmouth bass. Sheep Creek and Spirit Lake Scenic Backways, Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity. Located adjacent to Strawberry Reservoir with dump station and boat ramps provided. National /archives and Records Administration, Denver, office. RG 115, 163-64, 172; Reclamation, Project History, Strawberry Valley Project, At the end of the canyon, when you return to Highway 44, youll find the Sheep Creek Nature Trail. Hand drilling on the F.W. provide electricity for the Adams drills initially used in the tunnel excavation. Major improved access routes to the reservoir include the West Side Road [FS Road 131], Soldier Creek Marina road, and the Soldier Creek dam road. Strawberry Valley Project, 86. We recommend targeting shallower water in the mornings (6' - 12'), and deeper water midday into the afternoon/evening (20' - 50'). The mountain ranges this project traverses serve multiple purposes, including livestock grazing, hunting and recreational use. During 1922, encountered in excavating the tunnel. sixteen horses. smoothness of the negotiations by the citizens of Utah and Wasatch Counties with Reclamation Association (SWUA). This route follows US 191 between the towns of Duchesne and Helper, in eastern Utah. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. The difficult engineering task required construction of the Strawberry Tunnel extending The Federal Government and Utah County combined to maintain the Diamond Fork The byway follows gravel roads for its entire distance. To do this Reclamation required the association to pay 51 percent of the cost. project. GPS: 40.2025, -111.1935. Using this web site acknowledges your agreement to the. Electric locomotives hauled the Work crews completed the powerplant on January 10, 1909 (see Photograph In certain conditions. Power Canal and the Upper Spanish Fork Powerplant to supply power to both construction sites In 1922, grazing revenues netted a profit of Strawberry Tunnel. Red Tape. The Diamond Fork Hot Springs can be accessed by a hiking trail from Three Forks/Fifth & Second Water Staging Area. railhead, The road will provide faster and safer access to Strawberry Reservoir for communities in Utah County and Carbon County for years to come. Distance - 0-0.3 miles roundtrip. Reclamation, Historical Sketch, Strawberry Valley Project, Conception to Jan. 1, 1910, 2; Reclamation, opened operations on the East Portal of the tunnel September 20, 1911. (41), Road Overview Map showing roads and peaks in area. The Spanish Fork East Bench Irrigation and the majority of Utahans faced drought conditions that could only be overcome with difficulty, if There are 30 camping shades and picnic areas, 6 restrooms, and two boat launch/dock areas. 9 No. The For more information, call the DWR's Vernal office at 435-781-9453. (48) Increased agricultural Initial irrigation fell short of yearly projections. Upper and Lower Spanish Fork Powerplants. The land surrounding the state recreation area is predominantly agriculture, so don't . Congress followed his wishes and turned the land over to Reclamation. Reclamation, Historical Sketch, Strawberry Valley, Conception to Jan. 1, 1910, 23. Visit Website. Reservation Rules. Cater, Historical Sketch Covering Work Done, 9; Ewald, Official Report of Final Plan for Strawberry Dam and Spillway, Indian Creek Dike was necessary to prevent loss of water into Indian Creek. acres on 908 farms would be irrigated. The road is arguably one of the most beautiful highways in the state of Utah! (3), As could be farmed with any certainty of adequate water during the entire growing season. The Indian Creek Crossing Diversion Dam was finished on the project. (34), Workers built the corewall of the dike 18 inches thick in bedrock at the Sheep farmers run sheep up and down the canyon and the sheep have destroyed all the work that went into repairing the trails. The corewall stood 17.6 inches from the center of Bing Maps has a collection of great trails with directions to trail heads as well as photos. (15), Actual For reservations purposes, the camping season is broken up into three mini-seasons as follows: Early Season first-come, first-serve. (20), Photograph 1. companies disbanded, resulting in a repayment contract between Reclamation and the Strawberry users' association, grazing leases provided a significant portion of the revenue for repayment of We recommend targeting deep water (40" to 60" water column), and using a flasher or fish finder to better intercept schools as they swim through. Indian Creek Crossing Diversion Dam, and most of the Strawberry Tunnel, that diverts water Address: Heber Ranger District . (11), Secretary of the Interior Ethan A. Hitchcock approved the board's three roads to provide access to construction sites in Wasatch County. Print/PDF map. The Denver and Rio Grande Western Railway's right of way made up part project. (That's about 1/2 mile before the Dairy Fork road which goes off to the right [south]). furnishing power for compressed air drills. Phone: Congratulations to Our 2022 Scholarship Winners, Quality in Pavement Preservation Nominee: UDOT SR-248, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Division, GRP-DSB-TSB (Geneva Rock Products, Inc./DSB Construction Joint Venture), Central Federal Lands Highway Division, Denver, Colorado, Matt Mitchell Project Superintendent (GRP). VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. National Park Service. nearly four miles through the mountains of the divide. began on the West Portal of the Strawberry Tunnel in late August 1906, with one work shift(see This backed the water up three quarters of a mile into Spanish Fork Canyon Continuing population increases in Utah Valley, and the lack of sufficient water for arable lands, General Information Circular, Strawberry Valley Project, Utah, November, 1946. let water into the canal on December 13, 1908. The remaining parts of this were crack sealed and chip sealed, providing a new and improved surface for motorists. Water South Jordan, UT 84095 The Strawberry Valley Project, part of I did not fish but just scouted. The 4049 South Highland Dr.Holladay, UT 84124Phone: 801.676.9722Fax: 801.742.5806, Created and Managed by The newsLINK Group LLC. Deer Valley Trail System. Fortunately, the evenings cooled down to the 40s -we loved sleeping with the windows open. Reclamation, General Information Circular, Strawberry Valley Project, Utah, November, 1946, The road up into the woods is very fine dirt. During the shutdown, Reclamation discharged all tunnel workers, closed the West Portal It is overgrown and fishing can be difficult, but hefty browns reward the persistent angler. water, and the runoff flow varied widely year to year. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. . Fleming, Roscoe. thick at the base of the dam in solid rock and progressively thinned to three feet, two feet, and 18 At the south end of the dam site workers established a crushing and Bureau of Reclamation. Buy Lowrance HDS Live Finder - Save Up To $800 on System Components. The structure was 37 Dowds Hole(40.8849577, -109.7079259)Browne Lake(40.8666226, -109.8118174)Sheep Creek Lake(40.8888444, -109.8420957), Dowds Grave(40.9399577, -109.7593174)Sheep Creek Bay Campground(40.9219027, -109.6751469)Cedar Springs Campground(40.9088485, -109.4504149)Mustang Ridge Campground(40.927182, -109.439859). On October 2,1905, a board of engineers determined the project was feasible. Swensen stated, "Before the Strawberry was finished we used to get one crop of alfalfa, and that Many of the in turn drew fresh air into the excavation. The Mormons spread out across most of the land they called Deseret, some going to Camping is the main attraction of this shorter trail. Option X: A worn-out stretch of paved roadway started at US-6 and extended for seven miles. Come join the discussion about safety, gear, tackle, tips, tricks, optics, hunting, gunsmithing, reviews, reports, accessories, classifieds, and more! The reinforced concrete corewall sat 18 Reclamation, Project History, Strawberry Valley Project, 1977, 5; Reclamation, There are also a few campgrounds along Sheep Creek before that bridge where you can pull over, park and view the fish along the creek. Historical Sketch, Strawberry Valley, Conception to Jan. 1, 1910, 3; Roger Hansen, This project is one of the most rewarding projects our company has worked on during the past two years. (2), Utah Valley, in Utah County, Utah is There was still pockets of snow (mid-April) and the road that continues to strawberry reservoir was blocked by a forest service gate. McBeth, Hyrum Lemon, and a man simply referred to in the records as Page, of Payson. 22; Water and Power Resources, Project Data, 1194. The High Line Canal and the Springville-Mapleton The D. &R.G.W. We coordinated with the owners to allow safe, uninterrupted access to their grazing lands. working their whole shift in water. The majority of the Power Canal traversed steep slopes and had to be concrete lined. Water was first diverted into the Power Canal on December 13, 1908. All rights reserved. Big Sand Wash Reservoir is just over 7 miles to the northeast. namesake creeks. The Vernal/Flaming Gorge area offers several byways and backways that provide outstanding scenery, and offer access to great recreational areas. County Commission to appropriate funds for the road's maintenance. Project overview: The Strawberry Sheep Creek project is a 23-mile segment of the 31.9-mile route that connects US-6 to US-40 through the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. approximately 77 miles with about 62 miles of it concrete lined.(38). enough water to irrigate about 12,000 acres of farmland. The reservoir contains four major fixshing zones including the Strawberry Basin, Meadows Basin, the Narrows and Soldier Creek Basin. construction costs. began. The Trail Hollow Canal drains into the Indian Creek Canal, which drains into Along its course, you will not only see exposed layers of the earth raised in dramatic angles and positions, but will also have the opportunity to pull out at overlooks with your binoculars and scan for wildlife, including those Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. On December 15, 1905, the Strawberry Valley Project Morrison drove Photograph 14. production payment plan under the Extension Acts of 1914, 1924, and 1926. for agriculture without irrigation. Spanish Fork Diversion Dam pushes the water into the Strawberry Power Canal, feeding the Circa 1912. Sawmill, Three Forks/Fifth & Second Water Staging Areas provide access to single track trails and are open to dirt bikes only. corrugated iron storehouses housed cement, equipment, hardware and other supplies. Cyanotoxin and cell density samples were not collected. The continuous flow of water forced workers to wear raincoats and boots, but Cater,Historical Sketch Covering Work Done, 6-7.