We love East Canyon Creek for many reasons. Unfortunately, we also impact it in many ways, often without even knowing it.
Runoff from Park City and other towns usually goes to a “storm drain” that takes water directly to the creek. This water carries pollutants that were originally on pavement and lawns, such as road salt, car oils, fertilizers, and pesticides.
Building and development result in more “impervious surfaces” (such as parking lots, roads and the building themselves). Water runs right off these areas, rather than absorbing into the ground the way it naturally would. This makes the stream flow “flashier” -- meaning it has much higher high flows and much lower low flows.
Disturbance on the ground such as grazing or construction increases erosion. The loose soil and any other pollutants can be carried by rainwater or snowmelt to the river.
More people in an area means more demand on the water. Surface flows in our local streams have steadily decreased for the past 100 years.