Chapter Nine
ENVIRONMENT

West Jordan’s distinctive natural resources and environment contribute to the community’s quality of life and economic vitality. Natural resources and the natural environment are not inexhaustible commodities to be exploited but are valuable assets to be judiciously used and wisely managed for the benefit of present and future generations. These resources, including land, air, habitat, and water are essential components of life.

Undeveloped lands within West Jordan range from the Jordan River channel to the west bench at the foothills of the Oquirrh Mountains. Developed land within the City supports a wide range of uses, including: low, medium, and high-density residential communities; professional offices; public facilities; commercial shopping centers; light and heavy industry; and open spaces. These numerous land uses create environmental conflicts. Environmental concerns in the community revolve around two major issues: preserving the natural environment and mitigating environmental impacts from heavy land uses.

The purpose of this chapter is to examine critical environmental issues and to consider ways to improve the environment for the future. The protection and conservation of distinct and valuable resources is everyone’s responsibility. Environmental stewardship means that the City of West Jordan has a responsibility to manage local resources, now and in the future, to assure a healthy and productive environment. Individual citizens, businesses, and the government can achieve this by working together.

Topography and Climate

West Jordan is located in the southwest area of Salt Lake County along the Wasatch Front. The City is bordered on the west by the Oquirrh Mountains and by the Jordan River on the east. The City extends from as far north as 6119 South and as far south as 10200 South. West Jordan occupies approximately 20,680 acres. The elevation of West Jordan ranges from 5,335 feet in the foothills of the Oquirrh Mountains to 4,278 feet along the Jordan River. The terrain gradually slopes downward from the Oquirrh Mountains to the east and a steeper slope is encountered between 1300 West and approximately 900 West near the Jordan River.

Five irrigation canals, originating at the Jordan River at the south end of Salt Lake County, traverse the City in a northerly direction. Bingham Creek Wash and Barney’s Creek Wash are two of several natural drainage channels originating in the Oquirrh Mountains. West Jordan’s generally flat terrain has historically provided ample farmland and ideal development opportunities.

The climate of West Jordan is semi-arid. Between the years 2010 through 2019, West Jordan had an average of 20.49 inches of precipitation per year with temperatures ranging from 9 degrees Fahrenheit to 104.9 degrees Fahrenheit.

FIGURE 9.1
WEST JORDAN ELEVATIONS AND CANALS

Source: Utah Division of Water Rights; U.S. Geological Survey

Hillsides, especially sensitive hillsides, may not be suitable for development and must be protected because of their natural scenic character. Ordinances, guidelines, and criteria for minimizing flooding, erosion, and other environmental hazards that may result from development of sensitive hillsides were adopted in 2006.

Geology and Soils

Soil types which have been identified in West Jordan have traditionally been found to be suitable for dry farming, seed crops, or pasture. Soil types range from rock and cobbles to gravely and silty clays. Typically, variations of these soils emerge at surface elevations in stratified layers that cause fluctuations in surface soil types. Generally, though, nearly all soils are suitable for development.

Areas where soils have medium or high compressibility (clay) may require deeper excavation and additional soil consolidation prior to construction. Areas with shallow water tables have limited use for deep foundations and septic tanks. Collapsible soils and steep slopes with rocky soils place severe limitations on foundations and other underground building features. When placing a foundation, potential settling, cracking, and flooding of basements needs to be considered and the weight capacity of the soil is important to such considerations. All new buildings are reviewed for compliance with building codes and applicable City ordinances which address these issues.

Contamination

Over time, a number of properties have been degraded by environmental contamination from industrial and commercial operations, which hinder the productive use of these properties. In some areas surrounding the Bingham Creek natural drainage channel existed documented cases of soil contamination. Contaminants included combinations of lead, arsenic, and copper tailings. The areas of contamination were identified, and the remediation of tainted soil was completed in 1993. A few development projects have been approved in this area within the past 10 years, which were required to perform environmental tests and clean-up efforts prior to construction. More recently, a drainage canal that moved contaminated water from the Bingham Canyon copper mine to Magna was discovered in 2006 in the vicinity of U-111 and 7800 South. This canal, buried since the 1940s, was remediated in 2008.

Contaminated soils are typically discovered through routine Phase 1 Environmental Reports that are required to be submitted by the developer early in the development review process. These reports may trigger further soils testing and remediation through the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) if specific conditions are found. Smaller point contamination incidents, such as chemical spills, are reported to the DEQ at the time of spill.